Catholic priest who was convicted of sexual assault in Texas sentenced to 99 years in prison

Anthony Odiong faced up to life in prison for exploiting his spiritual authority as a clergyman for sex with his congregants

A Roman Catholic priest who was convicted recently of criminal clergy sexual assault in Texas has been sentenced to 99 years in prison.

Anthony Odiong, 57, received the punishment from a jury at a state courthouse in Waco on Tuesday after some witnesses described his sexually inappropriate behavior going back more than a decade. Character witnesses on behalf of Odiong, meanwhile, advocated for him to get probation, saying he could follow such an arrangement's rules - such as living near Waco and not committing additional crimes - despite feloniously breaking his priestly vows of chastity.