KITTANNING – A New Bethlehem man will serve 30 to 60 years in prison after being convicted on multiple counts of sexual offenses involving a minor.
Last week, Armstrong County District Attorney Katie Charlton announced the sentencing of Corey James Botelho, 32, of New Bethlehem, before the Armstrong County President Judge Chase G. McClister.
Botelho was arrested in December 2023, following an investigation by Trooper Anthony Vaccaro of the Pennsylvania State Police, Criminal Investigations Unit, Kittanning Barracks. The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by Vaccaro into a report of multiple sexual assaults of a minor victim by Botelho over the course of approximately seven years, while the juvenile victim was between the ages of 8 and 15.
After the initial report, the primary juvenile victim was forensically interviewed at Kay’s Cottage Child Advocacy Center in Kittanning. During the forensic interview, the child disclosed sexual abuse at the hands of Botelho, a relative.
Botelho was convicted following a day-and-a-half long jury trial before retired President Judge James J. Panchik of one count of Rape of a Child, three counts of Rape by Forcible Compulsion, one count of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Child, two counts of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse Forcible Compulsion, two counts of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse Person Less than 16 Years of Age, and one count of Aggravated Indecent Assault of a Child, all felonies of the first degree, along with multiple other felony sex assault charges.
Sentencing occurred on Thursday, March 26. McClister ordered Botelho to be committed to the state department of corrections for a minimum of 30 years with a maximum of 60 years. Botelho was also determined by the court to be a sexually violent predator and ordered to register as a sexual offender for life.