Several women have come forward with accusations of sexual abuse against Roderick Branscomb, the former director at Crossroads Treatment Center in LaGrange, Georgia. Branscomb, who is currently in custody at the Troup County Jail on multiple sex crime charges, allegedly harassed and abused women while they were seeking treatment for drug addiction. A lawsuit filed by the plaintiffs claims that Crossroads was negligent in its hiring and supervision of Branscomb, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
According to the testimony of the plaintiffs, they were sexually harassed and in some cases assaulted, including coerced intercourse, under the threat of being expelled from the treatment program. Wanda Butler, one of the plaintiffs, is quoted as saying "I came to Crossroads looking for treatment, looking for answers, I did nothing wrong," in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta. The lawsuit alleges that Branscomb began by requiring hugs from the women and then progressed to fondle them.
A statement from Crossroads indicates awareness of Branscomb's indictment by the Georgia Attorney General’s office. "We have and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities throughout the investigation and assist with the conclusion of any legal proceedings," the statement outlined, as reported by WSB-TV. The treatment center emphasized its commitment to safety and the high-quality care it has provided in the past.
Butler remarked at a press conference, "What he did to me is wrong. I’m not afraid of him. I am a victim," and affirmed her desire to encourage other women to also come forward. "I want to encourage other women to come forward. And like I said, no means no. And no amount of abuse is ever okay. That is my purpose, that is my sole purpose of being here today," Butler told WSB-TV. Additionally, the civil complaint has been filed in state court, and the attorneys have chosen not to disclose the sum sought through the lawsuit but have voiced their primary aim is to support other potential victims in coming forward.
At the moment, the focus is on justice for the survivors, as one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys made clear. Nathaniel Foote further elaborated, "This is not the first case like this that we've seen involving opioid treatment and people taking advantage of addiction to sexually exploit women," as explained in an interview with FOX 5 Atlanta. The treatment center has outlined that despite the serious accusations against Branscomb, there is no alleged wrongdoing by Crossroads as an organization.
