Neighbors reportedly observed something unusual — now a teacher faces accusations of ‘deeply troubling’ sexual assault of a student.

Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault After Neighbor Reports Suspicion

A teacher at an Illinois middle school has been charged with sexually assaulting a student, following a report from a neighbor who noticed something unusual happening at the teacher’s home. According to authorities, Jessica Bergman, 34, who teaches at Washington Middle School in Aurora, was arrested on Friday.

The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office announced on Saturday that Bergman faces two counts of felony sexual assault, attributed to her position of authority, along with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse.

Following her initial court appearance, Bergman was released but is prohibited from having any contact with individuals under 18. The investigation into her activities was initiated by the Wheaton Police Department, after they received reports about a concerning incident involving an underage male and an adult female.

Documents reveal that the police began their investigation into Bergman back in October, prompted by calls from neighbors who were worried about a young male frequently visiting her home.

The State Attorney’s Office indicated that Bergman and the alleged victim connected when he was a student at Washington Middle School. Bergman, who taught math and also coached the school’s soccer team, continued to communicate with the boy through text messages and phone calls after he graduated from middle school and entered his sophomore year of high school.

Officials allege that at some point, their relationship escalated to a sexual level, with the victim reportedly visiting Bergman’s home often and sometimes staying overnight, where they engaged in sexual acts.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Wheaton Police Chief P.J. Yorker expressed their concerns about the “inappropriate sexual relationship” that Bergman is accused of having with a student, highlighting the abuse of trust inherent in such situations.

Berlin emphasized the responsibilities entrusted to teachers, stating that they are meant to guide and protect students, rather than harm or exploit them. Chief Yorker echoed these sentiments, asserting that allegations of teacher abuse undermine community trust and that thorough investigations will be conducted to ensure the safety of children in the area.

The investigation received support from the DuPage County Child Advocacy Center, and it was reported that the student involved is now 17 years old.

At the time of this report’s release, Bergman’s name did not appear on the employee list for West Aurora School District 129. Neither Markelle Rogers, the principal of Washington Middle School, nor Michael Smith, the superintendent of West Aurora School District 129, had commented when the news broke.