A married Illinois special education teacher and soccer coach accused of sexually assaultinh a 15-year-old student is facing additional charges.
Christina Formella, aged 30, was recently present at a status hearing as reported by ABC 7 Chicago. After the hearing, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that she now faces 52 more charges.
According to CrimeOnline’s previous coverage, Formella is accused of sexually abusing a teenage student and was visibly upset when the charges were read to her on March 16, as captured by the arrest bodycam footage.
Police arrested her outside her home as she exited a vehicle reportedly belonging to her husband, who was in the passenger seat during the arrest.
“The victim’s mother discovered the alleged assault when looking through her son’s text message thread on his cell phone,” the statement said.
The authorities reported that the assault started during a tutoring session in 2023 within a classroom setting, involving the defendant and the 15-year-old student. The court documents indicate that it was the student who eventually decided to end the relationship.
After Formella’s court appearance on March 17, she was charged with one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, one count of Criminal Sexual Assault, and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse and was released on bond, according to ABC 7.
Investigators have since uncovered more information. The abuse is alleged to have started in January 2023 and continued for more than a year, ending in September 2024. Allegedly, the teacher and victim engaged in sexual acts at least 50 times between the school and her home. Formella is also accused of sending texts that appeared “grooming in nature,” according to the state’s attorney’s office, ABC 7 reported.
Formella’s charges have been upgraded to an additional 20 counts of Criminal Sexual Assault, 20 counts of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, six counts of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, and six counts of Grooming, bringing her total number of charges to 55 as of Tuesday.
While out on bond, she is to refrain from having any contact with anyone under the age of 18, including the victim.
Formella, who was on administrative leave from Downers Grove High School, has since resigned and surrendered her teaching license.
Formella is due to appear in court on August 4.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office]
