A Northampton County judge on Friday denied a former Bethlehem police officer’s attempt to withdraw his guilty plea on charges alleging he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl.
Costas Alestas, 44, of Palmer Township, filed a motion in September to withdraw his plea on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with someone younger than 16 and invasion of privacy, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in April, and was going to be sentenced in late September.
District Attorney Stephen Barrata said in a news release that Judge Samuel Murray denied the motion, and the plea still stands. Alestas now awaits sentencing, which has not been scheduled, according to court records.
Alestas was charged in May 2024 after the Bethlehem Area School District, where he worked as a school resource officer at East Hills Middle School, told the department about the incidents with the girl. The girl, 14, met Alestas while she was a student there, and he gave her his phone number so they could talk outside of school, according to authorities.
Police said the two met in his office, where he touched her. During a school event, they met in a concealed area and he sexually assaulted her while in full uniform. Additionally, he assaulted her in his car on two occasions.
Alestas had secret meetings with her outside of school, and would drop her off near her home so she would not be seen, police said.
Investigators also found an “upskirt” video of an 11-year-old at the school while searching his phone, according to court documents, which state he strategically turned his phone to record her skirt.
Alestas was fired shortly after charges were announced last year. He was a school resource officer for six years, and also coached the school’s co-ed soccer team.