![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-300x200.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
Liverpool swept aside Nottingham Forest 3-0 on Sunday as Aston Villa joined them in the Premier League top four ahead of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah were on target for Liverpool, who were without Luis Diaz after his parents were kidnapped in Colombia.
Jota gave Liverpool a 31st-minute lead, turning home a rebound after Matt Turner had made a save.
In celebration, he ran to manager Jurgen Klopp, who handed him a miniature Diaz number seven shirt to hold aloft.
Nunez doubled Liverpool’s lead four minutes later with an emphatic near-post finish after Dominik Szoboszlai’s cut-back.
Mohamed Salah struck Liverpool’s third goal in the 77th minute, profiting from Turner’s error to slide the ball into an empty net.
Diaz was left out of the matchday squad at Anfield.
Colombia President Gustavo Petro said on Saturday that the winger’s mother had been rescued from kidnappers but the search remained ongoing for his father.
Klopp said before the match that it was a “worrying situation for all of us”.
“We had to obviously make a late change because of the private situation involving Luis Diaz,” he added.
“It was a pretty tough night. I have never had that before. It’s a new experience I never needed.”
Villa Run
High-flying Aston Villa won their 12th consecutive home game in the Premier League, beating struggling Luton 3-1.
John McGinn coolly finished from a good set-piece routine in the 17th minute and the home side doubled their lead four minutes after the restart when Moussa Diaby drilled home a loose ball.
Villa made it 3-0 just after the hour when Tom Lockyer turned Diaby’s cross into his own net. A late own goal from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made it 3-1.
The win lifts Unai Emery’s men into fourth place in the table ahead of the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
Champions City will return to the top four if they beat United at Old Trafford, where the packed ground celebrated the life of the late Bobby Charlton before kick-off.
Brighton lost further ground after their sparkling start to the season.
The south coast club took a 1-0 lead through Evan Ferguson, who picked up the ball outside the box and expertly finished passed Bernd Leno with his left foot.
Fulham levelled 20 minutes after the restart through midfielder Joao Palhinha, who found the top corner from the edge of the box.
Earlier, Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored the only goal of the game as Everton beat West Ham 1-0 to give themselves breathing space above the Premier League relegation zone.
The England forward found the net early in the second half with an arrowing low shot from the edge of the area and the home side were unable to respond.
The win lifts Everton five points clear of the bottom three while it was West Ham’s fourth defeat in six league games.
AFP
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
