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An Illinois grand jury has issued an indictment against an Illinois high school teacher, adding 52 more charges concerning the supposed sexual assault and abuse of a student in the year 2023.
In a video released in April, 30-year-old Christina Formella was seen being stopped by police during a traffic stop and subsequently arrested after being accused of numerous sex crimes related to an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student in 2023.
Prosecutors stated that Formella was alleged to have sexually assaulted the student during a tutoring session before classes started in a classroom at Downers Grove South High School in December 2023. The incident came to light when the victim’s mother found evidence in her son’s text messages and then reached out to the police.
During Formella’s first court appearance March 17, she was charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault.
“The new allegations against Ms. Formella, including the allegations of grooming and that the abuse lasted nearly two years, are beyond disturbing,” Berlin said. “I thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward during what I imagine is an extremely difficult time for him.
“I also thank the DuPage County Children’s Center, particularly Investigator George Fencl, as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Jaclyn McAndrew and Michael Fisher for their work not only in this case but for their continued efforts protecting our children.”
Christina Formella in a police car. (YouTube/APE HUNCHO Dupage County, IL)
Formella appeared in court Tuesday morning for a status hearing, where the state filed a second petition to deny her pretrial release, though Judge Mia McPherson denied the request.
Her next appearance is scheduled for Aug. 4.
Bodycam footage of Formella’s arrest showed her appearing confused when police asked her to exit the vehicle during a traffic stop.
They then arrested her and placed her in the back of a police vehicle, where she asked questions about her detention.
Formella could be heard sobbing in the back seat of a police vehicle and asked for her husband, her childhood sweetheart whom she married last year, according to reports.
“I feel like I’m gonna throw up,” she said in the March 16 video, continuing to cry in the back seat.
Formella, who was also a soccer coach, began tutoring the alleged victim after he broke his collarbone, and they began messaging each other on a school platform, according to court documents obtained by TMZ. The pair then allegedly exchanged provocative texts, followed by FaceTime chats that led to the December 2023 sexual incident.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
