BETHLEHEM, Pa. - A former Bethlehem police officer and school resource officer in the Bethlehem Area School District has been accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student, according to a news conference on Wednesday.
43-year-old Costas Alestas is facing charges of statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person under 16, aggravated indecent assault, sexual contact with a student, criminal use of a communication facility, and invasion of privacy, according to online court records.
Alestas of Easton was an officer with the Bethlehem Police Department but was terminated after an investigation, according to Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott.
East Hills Middle School, Bethlehem
He was assigned as the school resource officer at East Hills Middle School and also served as a soccer coach.
The district stated that it became aware of allegations that the officer was involved in a relationship with a student and promptly initiated an investigation.
BASD is providing counseling to students as needed.
The victim, an East Hills Middle School student, told police during a May 2 interview that she had been engaging in ongoing communications with Alestas while at school.
Alestas provided her with his personal cell phone number, according to Bethlehem police Captain Nicholas Lechman during the news conference Wednesday.
Among other things, Lechman said the communications included conversations about engaging in sexual acts.
The communications led to the two engaging in sexual acts, both in the school during the school day and in Alestas's personal vehicles outside of school hours, Lechman said.
Lechman said Alestas assaulted the student during a school dance while Alestas was on duty, and in uniform, according to authorities.
According to court paperwork, Alestas sexually assaulted the student in the boy's locker room during the dance.
Authorities say an upskirt video of a second student was found on Alestas's phone at the news conference.
The Northampton County District Attorney's Office states there is no indication of other student victims. However, if anyone has additional information, they can contact the Bethlehem Police Department at 610-865-7162
Alestas is the second school resource officer in Northampton County to be charged with a sexual crime against a student in less than a month. The previous incident occurred at Easton Area High School, where a Palmer Township officer was charged for allegedly exposing himself to a minor.
"That school resource officers are forbidden to be in an office or any other isolated areas, to meet privately with a child," said District Attorney Stephen Baratta. "Talk about how we can better screen people who we use as SRO's at this point."
Alestas was arraigned Wednesday afternoon and is being held on $500,000 bail and taken to Northampton County Prison.
Please contact lorilee@wgolv.com for advertising and promotion.