Costas Alestas; Bethlehem PD

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

A police officer who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl during a school dance—while in uniform—has pleaded guilty, and a judge has now ruled he cannot take that plea back, prosecutors announced on Monday, Nov. 10.

Costas Alestas, a Bethlehem police officer once assigned as the school resource officer at East Hills Middle School, admitted to Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse and Invasion of Privacy, according to the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office.

Alestas groomed the teen via sexual text messages before escalating to physical assaults—one in his patrol uniform at a school dance, and another in his personal car after hours, authorities say.

Bethlehem Police were alerted to the inappropriate relationship on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, and immediately placed Alestas on leave. His phone, seized during the investigation, contained graphic evidence confirming the abuse, investigators said.

The case grew darker when police discovered that Alestas had also secretly filmed an “upskirt” video of another minor female student.

He was charged with a range of sexual offenses, including:

  • Statutory Sexual Assault.
  • Institutional Sexual Assault.
  • Aggravated Indecent Assault.
  • Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse.
  • Criminal Use of a Communications Facility.
  • Invasion of Privacy.

Alestas entered his guilty plea in front of Judge Samuel P. Murray on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, and was immediately remanded to Northampton County Prison. He now faces 10 to 20 years for the sexual assault and 1 additional year for the privacy charge. He will also be registered for life under Megan’s Law.

In an attempt to walk back his plea, Alestas filed a motion to withdraw, but Judge Murray rejected the request in a one-page order issued Friday, Nov. 7, affirming that the guilty pleas and convictions will stand.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact Bethlehem Police at 610-865-7000 or email BethlehemPolice@bethlehem-pa.gov.