Former Teacher Accused of Sexual Abuse Faces Additional Charges

A former special education teacher in Illinois now faces 52 more charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a 15-year-old student. This announcement came from DuPage County State Attorney Robert Berlin on Tuesday.

The teacher, 30-year-old Christina Formella, is already contending with 20 counts of criminal sexual assault and 20 counts of aggravated criminal abuse, among other charges, as detailed by Berlin.

Formella was initially arrested on March 16 while serving at Downers Grove South High School. At that time, she was charged with a single count of criminal sexual abuse and other related offenses.

Footage from a police body camera captures Formella expressing confusion when officers requested her to exit her vehicle during a traffic stop. Inside the car, her husband was present while she was subsequently handcuffed.

She was seen crying in the back of a police cruiser, reportedly saying, “I’m going to throw it at me,” according to the footage.

The initial report stated that the victim’s mother approached the Downers Grove police on March 15, 2025, to report inappropriate sexual contact with her son’s soccer coach.

Allegedly, the two engaged in individualized tutoring sessions before school, and the abuse purportedly began in January 2023, lasting until August or September 2024. Berlin described the new allegations as extensive, indicating that they included repeated grooming behaviors and abuse.

Formella is accused of sending many text messages of a grooming nature, and it’s claimed that they had sexual conduct about 50 times, in various locations such as her home and at the school.

Reports suggest alarming text exchanges between Formella and the victim that hint at a troubling relationship. The boy’s mother found one such message on her son’s phone, which led to further scrutiny.

Additionally, Formella allegedly kept a hidden memo on her device, expressing manipulative feelings towards the boy, claiming, “I’m not the second option. I’m the best you’ve ever had.”

In her defense, Formella asserts that she is a victim of a scheme orchestrated by students, claiming they manipulated her phone and sent messages under her name.

The upcoming court date is scheduled for August 4.