DA: Lehigh County woman gets up to 60 years in prison for child rape, trafficking | Allentown Area

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A Lehigh County woman charged with human trafficking and rape of a child was sentenced to state prison Tuesday, according to a press release from the Lehigh County DA.

Officials say Julie Acosta, 42, of Catasauqua, was convicted by a jury of all charges including Conspiracy – Rape of a Child, Trafficking in Individuals – Recruit/Entice/Solicit, Sexual Exploitation of Children, Simple Assault and Intimidation of a Witness.

In a hearing Tuesday, Acosta was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison. She will also be required to register as a sexual offender for the rest of her life, according to the DA.

Police say Acosta repeatedly denied responsibility for the crimes she was convicted of after a three-day trial that forced the victim to testify against Acosta. During that trial, the victim was accompanied by Ramona, the office’s courthouse companion dog who has been with the office since 2017 and will be soon retiring.

At the time of the child rape investigation, the victim was age 12.

“The testimony of the victim in this case was pivotal to the prosecution,” Holihan said. “Her strength and resilience are remarkable.”

Also charged in the case is Joshua Martel, 33, of Allentown, who pleaded guilty to Rape of a Child and Trafficking in Individuals as well as a statutory sex assault case involving a second victim, according to authorities.

The DA says in both of those cases, Martel was sentenced to serve 21 to 50 years in state prison.

Sometime in April 2024, the victim told investigators that Acosta had taken her and her siblings to an Airport Road hotel where they split a room with Martel. At the hotel room, Martel gave Acosta $100 and two bags of crystal methamphetamine before Acosta left Martel alone with the victim, investigators say.

Police say Martel sexually and physically assaulted the victim. During the rape, the victim said she tried to get away, but Martel would not let her leave.

After Acosta’s arrest in the child rape investigation, she was sent to Lehigh County Jail. Authorities say while in jail, Acosta both called and used her jail-issued tablet to communicate with the victim despite being ordered by Lehigh County Children and Youth not to communicate with the victim.

The DA says Acosta also used another inmate’s tablet to contact the victim and asked the victim to tell authorities she lied about the child rape investigation and to not cooperate so Acosta could be released from jail.