Illinois Teacher Charged with Sexual Assault of 15-Year-Old Student

Christina Formella, a 30-year-old special education teacher and soccer coach, faces multiple felony charges after a mother uncovered explicit text messages between her and the student.

Christina Formella, a teacher at Downers Grove South High School, has been charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault.
The alleged assault occurred during a December 2023 tutoring session before school hours in a classroom at the high school.
The victim’s mother discovered text messages detailing the alleged sexual relationship while linking her son's new phone to his iCloud account, prompting them to report the incident to police.
Formella was arrested on March 16, 2025, during a traffic stop and has denied the allegations, though prosecutors claim additional evidence supports the charges.
She has been placed on paid administrative leave and is barred from contacting minors or entering the school, with her next court appearance scheduled for April 14, 2025.