ALLENTOWN, Pa. – It’s day two of the trial for a woman accused of selling a child for drugs and cash in Lehigh County.
Julie Acosta faces charges related to sexual exploitation of children.
We’re getting a closer look into the moments leading up to the alleged sexual assault. Two Allentown police detectives took the stand Thursday morning.
Prosecutors questioned an Allentown police sergeant about 31-year-old Joshua Martel’s phone records.
Martel allegedly received the cash and bags of crystal meth from Acosta at a Super 8 on Airport Road before investigators say he raped a child in the motel room in April 2024.
Nearly 80 messages exchanged between Martel and Acosta before the alleged incident were shown in court. Investigators say the messages detailed the two coordinating to meet at the motel several times between April and May of 2024.
A second Allentown detective was called to the stand. The detective says in July 2024 the police received a call to the “child line” (a line designed for people to call to report sexual and child abuse) regarding the victim’s sexual assault claim.
A 25-minute video of an interview that detective and Children and Youth counselors had with Acosta regarding the incident was shown in the courtroom.
In the video, Acosta can be heard denying the claims, even at times yelling at the detective and calling the child a “liar.”
During Thursday morning’s proceedings, Acosta was emotional, grabbing tissues and crying.
The defense says it is coordinating travel with its witnesses to appear in court Thursday afternoon.