TROUP COUNTY, Ga. — Addiction and loss defined Wanda Butler's life for years. She sought help at Crossroads Treatment Center in LaGrange. And while she has managed to stay sober for three years, the last four years at the facility have tested her resolve.
"I lost my mother and father," Butler said. "I had no family or friends, and I got pretty down on my luck and made some poor decisions for myself. I woke up one day and decided I wanted my life back. But when I wanted help, instead, I got a lot of heartbreak, a lot of disappointment."
Butler is one of at least seven women accusing Roderick Branscomb of Columbus of sexually abusing them while seeking treatment at the center. The women also accused Crossroads and the lead pharmacist there of negligence for hiring Branscomb and having him stay on at the center in spite of previous reports claiming sexual assault and harassment.
Branscomb worked as a program director at the LaGrange Crossroads location, which specializes in drug and alcohol addiction treatment. A civil lawsuit states Branscomb has a history of sex-related crimes, and after a Crossroads employee reported some of the crimes to police, he was allowed to stay on with the treatment facility.
"We did nothing wrong," Butler said. "We came to Crossroads looking for treatment. We came looking for answers, and we were let down. No amount of abuse is ever OK.”
Last month, a grand jury indicted Branscomb on 21 charges brought by the Georgia Attorney General's Office. The indictment is linked to the allegations of sexual assault in LaGrange, which the AG's office said took place between 2021 and 2023. Attorneys Mel Hewitt and Nathaniel Foote now represent four of the women filing civil suits and seeking damages for physical and emotional harm.
"We stand ready to file cases against Crossroads or any other medical provider who takes advantage of vulnerable patients who are looking for help," Foote said. "This is not the first case like this that we’ve seen involving opioid treatment and people affiliated with medical providers taking advantage of addiction to sexually exploit women. This won’t be the last case. They knew or should have known about what was going on.”
Crossroads Treatment Centers sent 11Alive the following statement in response to the recently filed lawsuits:
"We are aware of the Georgia Attorney General’s indictment of Mr. Branscomb. Mr. Branscomb is a former employee and has not been affiliated with our organization since 2023. We have and will continue to cooperate fully with authorities throughout the investigation and assist with the conclusion of any legal proceedings.
While there has been no alleged wrongdoing by Crossroads as an organization, we take patient and employee safety extremely seriously. Crossroads conducts background screens, reference checks, licensure verifications, and other reviews as part of our hiring process, including with respect to the individual in question. We have a long legacy of providing high-quality care in Georgia, and we remain committed to ensuring successful, safe substance use disorder treatment for all the patients and families who depend on us."
While addiction and loss define some of Wanda Butler's life, she wants her recovery and her bravery to define the rest of it.
"I pray there are measures and steps taken in the future to help prevent situations like this from happening, and it encourages others to come forward and seek treatment and not fear the big man," Butler said. "There’s always going to be someone in charge. There’ll always be things that happen, but everybody has a voice. Everybody has a right to come forward and be heard.”