An American police officer who was heavily involved in a school in Pennsylvania has been charged with sexual assault for forcing a 14-year-old girl to have sex at school, including once during a school dance he was chaperoning.
“There was no indication that this was happening or that this individual had engaged in any of these behaviors. He was very popular at school. He had received merit awards (…) So it’s an absolute shock and surprise,” Bethlehem police chief Michelle Kott said, according to the “New York Post” on Thursday.
Former Costas police officer Nick Alestas, 43, was accused of pressuring a teenage girl from East Hills Middle School to have sex in his office, during school hours, or in his car after school, for weeks, according to what the police force indicated in a press release.
“An incident at school occurred during a school dance while Alestas was on duty and in a police uniform,” the Bethlehem Police Department said.
The man held, at the school, a position of school resource officer, but also a position of co-coach of the mixed soccer team, according to the American media.
It was only last month that the young victim confided in her guidance counselor about the relationship which had already lasted for several weeks, continued the “NY Post”.
According to police reports obtained by Lehigh Valley News, an analysis of the two cell phones of the accused, who had tried to disguise his crime by using a second number, would have revealed approximately 4,980 messages exchanged with the teenager as well as 49 calls from the March 26.
What’s more, the investigators also allegedly got their hands on a video, shot the evening of the same dance party, during which the uniformed police officer allegedly filmed under the skirt of an 11-year-old girl, without her knowledge, while She was walking in the corridors, noted the Bethlehem police.
Upon the teenager’s testimony, Costas Nick Alestas was reportedly placed on administrative leave, before being formally charged with several offenses, including statutory sexual assault, institutional sexual assault and invasion of privacy.
Given the heavy bail of US$500,000 on his case, the ex-police officer would have remained behind bars while awaiting his trial, according to the “NY Post”.
