District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan has announced a Catasauqua woman awaiting trail on charges of rape of a child is now also charged with witness intimidation.

Julie Acosta, 41, awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy – rape of a child, trafficking in individuals – recruit/entice/solicit, sexual exploitation of children and simple assault. The victim in those previously-charged cases is the same victim in the newest charge against Acosta.

At the time of the child rape investigation in 2024, the victim was age 12.

After Acosta’s arrest in the child rape investigation, she was sent to Lehigh County Jail on $350,000 bail. While in jail from Feb. 9 through June 6, 2025, 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 not cooperate so Acosta could be released from jail.

Acosta’s new charge was held for Lehigh County Common Pleas Court after a preliminary hearing and her bail was set at $50,000.