Rock Church Linked to Sex Abuse Lawsuit

By Sasha Foo
KUSI
May 8, 2014

http://www.kusi.com/story/25471437/rock-church-linked-to-sex-abuse-lawsuit

The allegations in the lawsuit against the head of a drug and alcohol rehab program, with connections to the Point Loma-based Rock Church, are serious. Six women - a former employee and five program participants - say they were groped or sexually assaulted by a man who called himself the director of the Rock Recovery Ministry. Jaycee Peacock says he watched her when she showered.

"David made disgusting sexual comments and found a way to touch me inappropriately every single day."

Taylor Peyton says he groped her and made her simulate giving him oral sex.

"As soon as I arrived, I was subjected to constant sexual conduct from David that escalated to the point where he finally began sexually assaulting me."

The target of their complaint is David Powers. A Youtube video was posted in October 2009 by the Rock Church praising the work of Powers and his wife Tina in helping young women kick their addictions to drugs or alcohol. But now, the man who was supposed to help them is accused of sexually abusing them.

"This is a sick man, who is dealing with sick women, who is preying on them."

Powers is accused of a pattern of inappropriate sexual conduct, ranging from groping to penetration. The lawsuit claims his wife - also a defendant - was aware of her husband's misconduct.

"Getting sober was hard enough on its own," continued Peacock. "The experience during my time in the program made it nearly impossible."

The six women say they were subjected to harassment and sexual battery while living in the La Jolla recovery home, Soledad House, or in one of the couples' sober-living homes. They operate under the name ABC Sober Living; Powers' wife, another employee and the Rock Church are all named as defendants in the lawsuit.

"They're going to be in his program, in the sober-living home or in the recovery home, they have to go through Rock Church," stated Irwin Zalkin, attorney for the plaintiff.

At a news conference, one of the plaintiffs, former employee Andria Donovan, says she finally quit in disgust.

"I could not keep my mouth shut regarding this, when I knew that there were girls suffering. And I've seen David's behavior, with me and also other women."

Taylor Peyton, who was homeless before going into treatment, says she was too scared to leave.

"I was homeless; I would have had to be living out of my car."

But the Rock Church says it's not involved in how Powers operates his homes.

QUOTE: "when the Rock first learned on Monday of the allegations against Mr. Powers, we immediately decided that we would no longer refer anyone to his facility until these claims are investigated by the proper authorities."

But the attorney who filed the lawsuit says the Rock Church is also responsible and should have done more to protect the women in the Rock Recovery Ministry.

"The suggestion that David Powers is just some third-party - uninvolved, unassociated to the Rock Church, to whom they occasionally refer people - is a farce. That's not the reality," stated Zalkin.

One of the women did go to the San Diego Police, but no criminal charges resulted. In the lawsuit, it's alleged that Powers carefully selected the young women who were accepted into his residential recovery program and often used the phrase "no oldies, no fatties."