Several women are suing a drug rehabilitation center for alleged sexual abuse by its former director

LAGRANGE, Ga. – A lawsuit has been filed by several women seeking drug addiction treatment at Crossroads Treatment Center in LaGrange. The women allege that the now-former program director of the methadone clinic sexually harassed and abused them.

The lawsuit alleges that the center was negligent in hiring, training, supervising and retaining Roderick Branscomb, and resulted in multiple patients, at their most vulnerable, being sexually assaulted between 2021 and 2023.

Branscomb, who is currently held in the Troup County Jail on charges of multiple sex crimes, is no longer in jail.

“I’m not afraid of him,” said one of the accusers, Wanda Butler.

The lawsuit alleges that Branscomb began requiring Butler and other recovering women to hug and fondle him.

Butler alleges in the lawsuit that Branscomb threatened to have her kicked out of the program if she did not agree to “allow him certain sexual gratification and not tell anyone about his inappropriate sexual misconduct.”

The lawsuit goes on to say that Butler was coerced into associating with the then-program director.

“I came to Crossroads looking for treatment, looking for answers, I did nothing wrong,” Butler said.

In a statement, Crossroads Treatment Centers said:

“We are aware of the Georgia Attorney General’s complaint against Mr. Branscomb. Mr. Branscomb is a former employee and has not been affiliated with our organization since 2023. We have cooperated fully with authorities throughout the investigation and will continue to do so. the conclusion of any legal proceedings.

“While there has been no alleged misconduct by Crossroads as an organization, we take patient and employee safety very seriously. Crossroads conducts background checks, reference checks, license verifications and other reviews as part of our recruitment process, including in relation to the individual in question We have a long tradition of providing high-quality care in Georgia, and we remain committed to ensuring successful, safe substance use disorder treatment for all patients and families who depend on us.”

One of the plaintiffs’ lawyers says there must be justice for the survivors and encourages them to ask someone for help.

“This is not the first case like this we’ve seen involving opioid treatment and people taking advantage of their addiction to sexually exploit women,” explained Nathaniel Foote, Butler’s attorney.