Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca on Tuesday announced that Julie Acosta, 42, of Catasauqua, was sentenced to a state prison term of 30-60 years in a human trafficking case.

Acosta was convicted by a jury of conspiracy — rape of a child, trafficking in individuals — recruit/entice/solicit, sexual exploitation of children, simple assault and intimidation of a witness.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Robert L. Steinberg ordered Acosta to register as a sexual offender for the rest of her life.

In a press release, the district attorney said Acosta repeatedly denied responsibility for the crimes she was convicted of after a three-day trial that forced the victim to testify against Acosta. During that trial, the victim was accompanied by Ramona, the office’s courthouse companion dog that has been with the office since 2017 and will be soon retiring.

At the time of the child rape investigation, the victim was 12.

Holihan said of the child’s testimony, “The testimony of the victim in this case was pivotal to the prosecution. Her strength and resilience are remarkable.”

Also charged in the case is Joshua Martel, 33, of Allentown, who pleaded guilty to rape of a child and trafficking in individuals as well as a statutory sex assault case involving a second victim. In both of those cases, Martel was sentenced to serve 21 to 50 years in state prison.

Testimony showed that sometime in April 2024, the victim told investigators Acosta had taken her and her siblings to an Airport Road hotel where they split a room with Martel. At the hotel room, Martel gave Acosta $100 and two bags of crystal methamphetamine before Acosta left Martel alone with the victim.

Police said Martel sexually and physically assaulted the victim. During the rape, the victim said she tried to get away, but Martel would not let her leave.

After Acosta’s arrest in the child rape investigation, she was sent to Lehigh County Jail. While in jail, Acosta both called and used her jail-issued tablet to communicate with the victim despite being ordered by Lehigh County Children and Youth not to communicate with the victim.

Acosta also used another inmate’s tablet to contact the victim and asked the victim to tell authorities she lied about the child rape investigation and to not cooperate so Acosta could be released from jail.