BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- A man hired to be a companion to a disabled adult is now accused of sexually assaulting his client.

Emanuel Martinez, 20, is accused of committing sex acts on a 21-year-old autistic man. Martinez was employed as a companion by Spectrum Life Services of Hollywood and was responsible for accompanying the victim on various outings.

Investigators said that during these outings between April 28 and June 5, Martinez committed sexual assaults. On one occasion, the crime occurred at the Martinez’s Sunrise home; another time it was in a bathroom at the Sawgrass Mills Mall, according to detectives.

The alleged victim’s mother said that she became aware of the assaults last week. He is able to speak very little but he can type full sentences using a computer communication program.

The 21-year-old wrote to his mother that he had been assaulted. BSO deputies and sex crime detectives entered the case and interviewed the victim by asking him questions, which he answered through his computer. In this way, investigators said, he detailed the alleged assaults.

Martinez was arrested Wednesday. Investigators said he made a statement but no admissions regarding the lewd battery cases.

Martinez is charged with lewd and lascivious battery on a disabled adult and kidnapping.