BETHLEHEM, Pa. (CBS) — A Lehigh Valley college useful resource police officer and soccer coach is accused of taking an inappropriate video of a younger lady and having a sexual relationship with one other lady.
Prosecutors allege 43-year-old Costas Nick Alestas had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old scholar and recorded at the least one upskirt video of an 11-year-old lady.
Metropolis of Bethlehem Police Division
Police stated Alestas was a college useful resource officer for six years at East Hills Center Faculty in Bethlehem. He was additionally the college’s co-ed soccer coach, in line with courtroom paperwork.
Throughout a press convention Wednesday, police stated they had been notified by the Bethlehem Space Faculty District of Alestas’s alleged “inappropriate” relationship with a scholar on Might 1. Alestas was instantly requested to go away the college and was positioned on administrative go away.
By way of their investigation, they stated the college useful resource officer had a number of sexual encounters each on and off college grounds with the 14-year-old lady. Police imagine the connection began in January of this 12 months.
“The sufferer disclosed she had been concerned in ongoing communication with Alestas whereas in school, together with him offering her together with his private mobile phone quantity,” Metropolis of Bethlehem Police Division Capt. Nicholas Lechman stated. “At one level, the sufferer’s mom found textual content messages on her cellphone and when Alestas grew to become conscious of this, he started utilizing a second cellphone quantity to speak with the sufferer. The communication with Alestas included conversations about participating in sexual acts. Because the communication between Alestas and the sufferer continued, the interactions progressed into a number of encounters involving sexual contact between the 2.”
Lechman stated one of many sexual encounters occurred throughout a college dance whereas Alestas was on responsibility and in police uniform.
By way of the investigation, courtroom paperwork additionally allege at the least one video was discovered on Alestas’ cellphone exhibiting up the skirt of an 11-year-old lady. They stated the lady was recognized by her dad and mom.
“This video was taken with out the sufferer’s information whereas she was strolling within the hallway,” Lechman stated.
Alestas is charged with a number of offenses together with statutory sexual assault, sexual contact with a scholar and invasion of privateness.
The college district declined additional touch upon the matter, although an up to date assertion dated Wednesday, Might 15, was posted on their web site:
“The Bethlehem Space Faculty District grew to become conscious of allegations associated to Officer Alestas on the afternoon of Monday, April 29, 2024, when a scholar shared data with their steerage counselor. The steerage counselor, as per District protocols, instantly knowledgeable college officers and contacted Childline to start an investigation. The following day, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the counselor additionally filed a CY47 Report with Northampton County Youngsters and Youth to proceed the investigation.
“On Wednesday, Might 15, 2024, the District knowledgeable the Bethlehem Police Division of the reported allegations and the Youngsters and Youth referral. The District and the Bethlehem Police Division labored in tandem to position Officer Alestas on administrative go away from each organizations. The District deactivated the Officer’s entry to all District sources. The District instantly shared all reported data with the Bethlehem Police Division’s investigating officers.”
An earlier assertion posted on the BASD’s web site confirmed costs had been forthcoming after the college and police started investigating an alleged relationship involving a useful resource officer and scholar, however didn’t initially determine Alestas. On the time, the college district stated it “will present counseling assist as wanted. The BASD stays dedicated to transparency and cooperation with all investigative and authorized entities because it pertains to this matter.”
Courtroom data present Alestas was unable to publish bail and stays within the county jail. He’s due again in courtroom later this month.
“It is with a heavy coronary heart that we’re right here,” Northampton County District Legal professional Stephen Baratta stated on the press convention.
Baratta famous that is the second college useful resource officer within the county who was arrested and charged following an alleged inappropriate relationship with a scholar during the last a number of weeks.
The Northampton County Workplace of the District Legal professional stated in a launch that John Smoke was arrested and charged final month after he allegedly “despatched specific photographs to an underage scholar.”
Smoke, they stated, was a Palmer Township police officer and faculty useful resource officer at Easton Space Excessive Faculty on the time of the incident. He’s due in courtroom this week.
“We have to begin speaking about whether or not there’s prophylactic measures,” Baratta stated Wednesday. “We will take so far as coverage and procedures that may reduce alternatives for this type of habits.”
BETHLEHEM, Pa. (CBS) — A Lehigh Valley college useful resource police officer and soccer coach is accused of taking an inappropriate video of a younger lady and having a sexual relationship with one other lady.
Prosecutors allege 43-year-old Costas Nick Alestas had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old scholar and recorded at the least one upskirt video of an 11-year-old lady.
Metropolis of Bethlehem Police Division
Police stated Alestas was a college useful resource officer for six years at East Hills Center Faculty in Bethlehem. He was additionally the college’s co-ed soccer coach, in line with courtroom paperwork.
Throughout a press convention Wednesday, police stated they had been notified by the Bethlehem Space Faculty District of Alestas’s alleged “inappropriate” relationship with a scholar on Might 1. Alestas was instantly requested to go away the college and was positioned on administrative go away.
By way of their investigation, they stated the college useful resource officer had a number of sexual encounters each on and off college grounds with the 14-year-old lady. Police imagine the connection began in January of this 12 months.
“The sufferer disclosed she had been concerned in ongoing communication with Alestas whereas in school, together with him offering her together with his private mobile phone quantity,” Metropolis of Bethlehem Police Division Capt. Nicholas Lechman stated. “At one level, the sufferer’s mom found textual content messages on her cellphone and when Alestas grew to become conscious of this, he started utilizing a second cellphone quantity to speak with the sufferer. The communication with Alestas included conversations about participating in sexual acts. Because the communication between Alestas and the sufferer continued, the interactions progressed into a number of encounters involving sexual contact between the 2.”
Lechman stated one of many sexual encounters occurred throughout a college dance whereas Alestas was on responsibility and in police uniform.
By way of the investigation, courtroom paperwork additionally allege at the least one video was discovered on Alestas’ cellphone exhibiting up the skirt of an 11-year-old lady. They stated the lady was recognized by her dad and mom.
“This video was taken with out the sufferer’s information whereas she was strolling within the hallway,” Lechman stated.
Alestas is charged with a number of offenses together with statutory sexual assault, sexual contact with a scholar and invasion of privateness.
The college district declined additional touch upon the matter, although an up to date assertion dated Wednesday, Might 15, was posted on their web site:
“The Bethlehem Space Faculty District grew to become conscious of allegations associated to Officer Alestas on the afternoon of Monday, April 29, 2024, when a scholar shared data with their steerage counselor. The steerage counselor, as per District protocols, instantly knowledgeable college officers and contacted Childline to start an investigation. The following day, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the counselor additionally filed a CY47 Report with Northampton County Youngsters and Youth to proceed the investigation.
“On Wednesday, Might 15, 2024, the District knowledgeable the Bethlehem Police Division of the reported allegations and the Youngsters and Youth referral. The District and the Bethlehem Police Division labored in tandem to position Officer Alestas on administrative go away from each organizations. The District deactivated the Officer’s entry to all District sources. The District instantly shared all reported data with the Bethlehem Police Division’s investigating officers.”
An earlier assertion posted on the BASD’s web site confirmed costs had been forthcoming after the college and police started investigating an alleged relationship involving a useful resource officer and scholar, however didn’t initially determine Alestas. On the time, the college district stated it “will present counseling assist as wanted. The BASD stays dedicated to transparency and cooperation with all investigative and authorized entities because it pertains to this matter.”
Courtroom data present Alestas was unable to publish bail and stays within the county jail. He’s due again in courtroom later this month.
“It is with a heavy coronary heart that we’re right here,” Northampton County District Legal professional Stephen Baratta stated on the press convention.
Baratta famous that is the second college useful resource officer within the county who was arrested and charged following an alleged inappropriate relationship with a scholar during the last a number of weeks.
The Northampton County Workplace of the District Legal professional stated in a launch that John Smoke was arrested and charged final month after he allegedly “despatched specific photographs to an underage scholar.”
Smoke, they stated, was a Palmer Township police officer and faculty useful resource officer at Easton Space Excessive Faculty on the time of the incident. He’s due in courtroom this week.
“We have to begin speaking about whether or not there’s prophylactic measures,” Baratta stated Wednesday. “We will take so far as coverage and procedures that may reduce alternatives for this type of habits.”
