New Mexico women sue halfway house director, motel owner over allegations of sexual assault

Three women have sued a New Mexico motel owner and the director of the halfway where they lived, saying they were repeatedly sexually assaulted at work and threated with being sent back to prison when they complained.

The lawsuit says Cindy Hannan, who ran the New Life Recovery House in Alamogordo, assigned the women to work at a nearby Super 8 Motel where they were harassed, subjected to lewd conduct and inappropriately touched by owner Victor Chevdawala (CHEHV'-da-WAH'-lah).

Hannan told The Associated Press she was unaware of the lawsuit, adding that she "heard there were scandals at the Super 8, but I haven't been involved in any."

Chevdawala declined to comment. His lawyer, Bert Atkins, didn't immediately return a phone message.

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