A Catasauqua woman convicted of sex-trafficking a 12-year-old child will serve up to 60 years in prison.
Julie Acosta, 42, was sentenced to 30-60 years in state prison Tuesday by Lehigh County Judge Robert L. Steinberg. She will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of her life, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan.
Acosta had faced a sentence of up to 92 years in prison after her January conviction. After a three-day trial, a jury found her guilty on charges of human trafficking, rape of a child, sexual exploitation of children, simple assault and witness intimidation.
Holihan credited the child’s testimony as being “pivotal” to the prosecution.
“Her strength and resilience are remarkable,” Holihan said.
According to authorities:
In April 2024, Acosta took the child to a hotel on Airport Road, where she shared a room with Joshua Martel of Allentown. Martel gave Acosta $100 and two bags of crystal methamphetamine before Acosta left Martel alone with the child.
Martel then sexually and physically assaulted the child. During the rape, the child tried to get away, but was not allowed to leave by Martel.
After Acosta was arrested, she called and used a tablet to communicate with the child from Lehigh County Jail, despite being ordered not to do so. She also used another inmate’s tablet to contact the child, asking the child to say she lied about the incident and to not cooperate with authorities so Acosta could be released from jail, authorities said.
As part of a plea agreement, Martel pleaded guilty to child rape and trafficking, as well as statutory sexual assault involving a second victim. In both cases, Martel was sentenced to serve 21 to 50 years in state prison, and also ordered to register as a sex offender for life.