Apostolu

HOLLIDAYSBURG — An Altoona man has been sentenced to 12 to 25 years in jail on multiple counts of child pornography, indecent assault and child sex trafficking offenses.

Blair County Judge Daniel J. Milliron on Monday imposed the incarceration time on Stephen J. Apostolu, 33, to be followed by five years’ probation.

The sentence was negotiated in July when Apostolu rendered guilty pleas in court, thereby avoiding a jury trial in August and the possibility of a longer sentence if convicted.

In court Monday for sentencing, Apostolu declined the chance to speak in court or to address critical remarks levied toward him by the mother of a teenage victim.

“What you have done to my daughter, she can’t forgive you,” the mother told Apostolu who kept his head bowed.

The teenager, now 19, was one of six youths between 9 and 17 years old, identified during an Altoona police investigation into sexual acts involving Apostolu and his girlfriend, 30-year-old Kara Tornatore.

Based on the criminal charges, the girls were lured to — or were in the process of being lured to — Amy Brosch’s Logan Hills apartment in 2017 and early 2018, where Apostolu and Tornatore were photographing and videotaping sexual activities.

Brosch, who told police that Apostolu provided her with free methamphetamine, rendered guilty pleas in February 2019 to child pornography, child sex trafficking and drug trafficking offenses. She is serving eight to 20 years in jail.

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Apostolu, who has been in jail since June 5, 2018, will be credited for time served toward his 12- to 25-year sentence, with no eligibility for early release.

Milliron also fined Apostolu $36,000, by assigning $500, $750 or $1,000 to each of the 60 criminal counts to which Apostolu pleaded guilty.

Those convictions also make Apostolu a Tier III sexual offender, requiring him under the state’s Megan’s Law to register his address and other identification information for the rest of his life.

In preparation for Monday’s sentencing, sheriff deputies transported Apostolu from the Cambria County Prison, where he is being housed on behalf of Blair County. He should be transferred to a state prison as soon as possible, Milliron said Monday.

Tornatore, meanwhile, is to be scheduled for sentencing as soon as possible and after notification of the victims, Milliron said.

She was scheduled to be sentenced with Apostolu, but because of a health-related issue, she couldn’t be transported to the courthouse from the Blair County Prison.

Milliron said he could have sentenced Tornatore on Monday using a video transmission from the prison, but Tornatore advised through her attorney that she wants to be sentenced in person.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.