A "life coach" for a mentally disabled South Florida woman is facing charges after police say he coerced her into having sex with him multiple times.
Michael Bellamy, 56, is charged with three counts of sexual battery on a disabled person following his arrest Tuesday. He remained behind bars Thursday on $22,500 bond, and it was unknown if he's hired an attorney.
According to a Plantation Police arrest report, Bellamy's company, Opulent Living in Lauderhill, was contracted by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to assist the woman with paying her bills, buying groceries, getting her children to doctor appointments and other routine tasks.
The victim, who was diagnosed as mentally disabled, lives independently with her children but requires some assistance, the report said.
"APD has initiated an investigation to ensure all proper procedures were followed. If anyone did not live up to our incredibly high standards, they will be held fully accountable," APD Communications Director Melanie Etters said in a statement.
The report said the abuse began in June 2014, when Bellamy allegedly began forcing the woman to have sex with him. She had been worried about how to buy groceries and Bellamy said he would help her if she performed a sex act on him, the report said.
The woman said she felt intimidated and that she had no choice but to comply, the report said. She also said she thought Bellamy might harm her, and claimed he told her that "people that complain about him or his company are never seen again," the report said.
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According to the report, the encounters happened about four times and the woman told detectives she didn't immediately report the incidents because she didn't think anyone would believe her.
