A perverted school employee in Pennsylvania was arrested Wednesday on charges that he pressured a 14-year-old student into a sexual relationship and sexually abused him during a school dance he led.
Kostas Nick Arestas, 43, is also accused of stealing a disturbing upskirt video of an 11-year-old girl walking down the halls of East Hills Middle School in Bethlehem.
Authorities said Alestas’ alleged abuse came to light last month after the boy told his guidance counselor about their weeks-long relationship.
Her mother had previously discovered numerous dirty text messages between the two, but Arestas, who was also the school’s co-ed soccer coach, tried to avoid arrest by using a second phone number. . Bethlehem Police Department announced Wednesday.
“There was a deceptive attempt to hide who sent the text messages,” Bethlehem Police Chief Michel Cotto said at a news conference.
When investigators questioned her, the teenager quickly waived the charges and said she gave them her personal phone number while on campus.
“Communications with Arestas included conversations about sexual acts. As communications between Arestas and the victim continued, the interactions evolved into several encounters involving sexual contact between the two. ,” the department said in a release.
Police said the perverted encounters took place during class, in Alestas’ office, and after school in Alestas’ car.
One horrifying incident even occurred “during a school dance while Arestas was on duty in his police uniform.”
On the same day, the disgraced school officer also allegedly shot a video of his second victim, an 11-year-old boy, and when investigators searched his cellphone, they found this video. was recovered.
An analysis of Arestas’ cell phone revealed approximately 4,980 messages exchanged and 49 phone calls with the 14-year-old boy since March 26, according to a police affidavit. Obtained by Lehigh Valley News.
The arrest came as a shock to Bethlehem police, who said Arestas was a six-year veteran and well-respected member of the department.
“There was no indication that this was happening or that this person was engaging in behavior like this. He was popular at school. He had received achievement awards in the past. So… This is truly shocking and surprising,” Bethlehem Police Chief Michel Cott said.
Mr. Arestas was immediately placed on administrative leave and charged with several felonies, including statutory assault, institutional sexual assault, and invasion of privacy.
Arestas was unable to post bail and remains in the county jail, according to court records.
Alestas is the second Northampton County school resource officer to be arrested and charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a student in the past few weeks.
Former Easton Area High School official John Smoak was arrested last month on suspicion of “sending explicit photos to an underage student.”
“We need to talk about whether there are preventative measures. We can put policies and procedures in place that reduce the opportunity for this type of conduct,” Northampton County District Attorney Stephen Baratta said Wednesday.
