Former Bethlehem City Police officer, Costas Alestas, was sentenced Monday to 10-20 years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges related to the sexual assault of one middle school student and inappropriately recording another. Alestas was assigned to East Hills Middle School when court documents say he sexually assaulted a student multiple times in various locations, including his office at the school. Allegations also surfaced that he took an “upskirt” video of another student and police found that video on his cell phone. On May 1, 2024, the Bethlehem City Police Department was notified of allegations Officer Alestas had inappropriate contact with the female student. He was serving as a school resource officer at the time. Following the report, Alestas was placed on administrative leave, and cell phone records revealed he had engaged in an ongoing sexual relationship with the student, and that he recorded another student without her knowledge. On Monday, he pled guilty to Involuntary Deviate Sexual Assault against a person less than 16-years-old, a first-degree felony and Invasion of Privacy, a third-degree misdemeanor. Along with the prison sentence of 10-20 years, Alestas will be required to register as a sexually violent predator for the rest of his life. Resources for victims of sexual assault are available through the National Sexual Violence Resources Center and the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-4673. ...read more read less