An Illinois high school teacher, Christina Formella, has been indicted on 52 felony charges in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a 15-year-old male student, authorities announced on June 17. The charges include 20 counts of criminal sexual assault, 20 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, 6 counts of indecent solicitation of a child, and 6 counts of grooming.
Formella, 30, who also served as a soccer coach at Downers Grove South High School, is accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with the student between January 2023 and late 2024, reportedly involving around 50 incidents, with most occurring on school property.
The case came to light when the victim’s mother discovered inappropriate text messages on his phone, including messages that expressed love and referenced sexual encounters. Authorities say the relationship began while Formella was tutoring the student after a sports injury.
Formella was arrested during a traffic stop in March, captured on police bodycam appearing visibly distressed. While the prosecution sought to keep her in custody, the judge allowed her pretrial release. She appeared in court this week for a status hearing, with her next court date set for August 4.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin called the allegations “beyond disturbing,” commending the bravery of the victim and the efforts of law enforcement. The investigation remains active, and Formella’s legal team has not commented publicly.
