A Cesspool of Sex': Women Sue Over Allegations Surrounding 'Disgusting Sexual Comments' and Acts at Megachurch-Linked Rehab Center

Six women have come forward with allegations against the former owner and director of a sober living program reportedly linked to a well-known megachurch, claiming that he sexually harassed and groped them while they were staying at the facility.

The plaintiffs claim that David Powers, 54, the former head of ABC Sober Living, made sexual comments, intimidated them and even lay on top of at least one of the women as she slept, the Christian Post reported.

These incidents purportedly unfolded at the Soledad House, a facility for recovering female addicts that is purportedly linked to the Rock Church, a house of worship in San Diego, California.

Three of the plaintiffs -- Taylor Peyton, Andria Donovan and Jaycee Peacock -- described the claims of harassment, battery and inappropriate sexual conduct during a press conference held last week.

Peyton, who entered the program in September 2013, claims Powers came into her room, lay on her and kissed her neck, among other allegations.

"I was terrified if I told anyone I wouldn’t be able to complete my treatment," she said.

Peacock offered up similar claims, according to KNSD-TV.

"As soon as I arrived, David began making inappropriate comments to me. Soon enough, he was slapping my butt and walking into the room when I was naked," she said. "David made disgusting sexual comments and found a way to touch me every single day that I was there."

In total six women have filed a civil lawsuit against the church, Powers, ABC Sober Living and the man's wife, Tina Powers, who they claim threatened them not to go public.

"These are the most vulnerable of the population. They’re people who are really trying to deal with the horrible disease of addiction, and they’ve gone there to seek sanctuary," their attorney Irwin Zalkin told KNSD-TV last week. "They’ve gone there to seek healing and what they get is a sex fest. I mean, that’s really what this place is -- it’s a cesspool of sex."

Powers has denied the allegations, saying that this is the first time in his 17-year work that such an allegation has been made. Here's his full statement:

“At the end of January 2014 a female resident with mental health issues alleged that while she lived in a facility other than ours that one of our principals imposed himself on her in a sexual manner. We categorically deny this allegation. We take things of this nature very seriously and we have always had a zero tolerance for this type of behavior. We have been helping people get sober for 17 years and this is the first time a rumor of this kind has ever come up.

Our company is a high profile target in our community and has its share of people who dislike us. Of those people, one person in particular took this girl to a law firm in hopes of taking us down. The law firm hired an investigator who did an extremely thorough investigation and turned their findings back over to the law firm. The investigation ended more than 2 months ago.

We deal with a fragile population and people look to move out for any reason possible. No one left our program except 1 girl who immediately relapsed. Additionally no staff has left as well. Again we categorically deny this allegation. No legal actions have been taken against us to date and we have never been sued. We are in communication with a law firm specializing in libel and defamation issues and we are considering our options.”

The Rock Church released a statement to KNSD-TV as well, separating itself from the alleged misconduct.

"While these accusations are very concerning, none of the alleged misconduct took place on property owned or managed by the Rock Church or was committed by anyone under the authority and control of the Rock Church," the release read. "They were allegedly committed at a recovery center owned and operated by ABC Sober Living. It should be noted that none of the accusers were referred to ABC Sober Living by the Rock Church."

Read more about the controversy here.

(H/T: Christian Post)