Federal prosecutors have charged a Dorchester man who operates residential sober homes with sexually harassing female tenants.

Peter McCarthy, 49, runs sober homes through Steps to Solutions Inc. A lawsuit filed in federal court by prosecutors alleges that between 2012 and 2019, he “sexually harassed female residents of his sober homes by offering to reduce or forgive rent, granting extra house privileges, or waiving security deposits in exchange for engaging in sexual acts.”

The lawsuit also alleges that he asked for sexually explicit photographs, made “unwanted sexual comments” and lashed out at residents who reported his conduct.

“It is disappointing that a landlord who is supposed to be helping vulnerable women beat drug addiction was allegedly sexually harassing them and offering to reduce their rent in exchange for sex,” Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Mendell said in a statement.

The lawsuit seeks to “prevent future discriminatory conduct, monetary damages to compensate victims of McCarthy’s conduct and civil penalties,” federal prosecutors said in a release.

His attorney told the Associated Press that McCarthy denies the allegations. McCarthy, on the website for Steps to Solutions, said the sober homes offer a “second chance at life.” He wrote he founded Steps to Solutions “through my own struggles on the journey of recovery.”

According to the lawsuit, McCarthy was convicted of indecent assault and battery in 1992 and was on the state’s sex offender registry from 2004 through the end of 2015.

He created Steps to Solutions, with a business address at 51 Buttonwood St., in 2012. The sober homes, which are not licensed or funded by any state or city, rent out rooms by the month or for shorter periods of time, the lawsuit says.

There are seven existing homes with 85 beds, including ones located at 27 Lithgow St. in Dorchester and 9 Kearsarge Ave. in Roxbury. The rest are in Lynn. All of the homes are rented from the owners and sublet to residents.

There were seven locations which previously had sober homes, including 513 Washington St., 8 Boyd St., and 28 Seaver St. in Dorchester, according to the suit.

As an example, the suit alleges that McCarthy sent sexually explicit text messages to a female resident. “The female resident stated that she did text him a sexually explicit photograph because she was behind on rent and feared McCarthy would kick her out of the sober home if she did not do so.”