Latest news with #ChristinaFormella
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- News.com.au
Married teacher accused of raping 15yo banned from marital home
The married American teacher accused of 'raping' a 15-year-old student has been forced to move out of her marital home after a judge denied her request to decrease the 'buffer zone' between her and the teenage student she is accused of sexually assaulting more than 50 times. Special education teacher Christina Formella, 30, is currently facing dozens of criminal charges, including sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child and grooming in relation to a former student she allegedly sexually assaulted after meeting at one of her soccer classes. The former high school teacher, who has since resigned from her job at Downers Grove South High School in Chicago, and has repeatedly denied being a 'predator'. However, prosecutors claim evidence shows the married woman, whose husband Michael is publicly standing by her, abused the student over a period of months and didn't stop until the boy's mother uncovered it. After initially being charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault against a minor in March, the charges were upped last month, with the total now coming in at 55 counts. Ahead of the trial, Judge Mia McPherson recently denied an earlier request from the prosecution to hold Formella in custody, instead setting a number of conditions for the former educator – including that she live at least 5000 feet (1.5 km) away from the alleged victim's home, school and workplace, Yahoo News reports. But with Formella living within that no-go zone, it has meant she has been forced to leave her marital home, and her recent request for the buffer to be reduced from 5000 feet to 2500 feet (0.75kms) have been denied, the New York Post reported. At a hearing at a DuPage County courtroom on Thursday, Formella was seen 'holding hands' with her husband as she was delivered the blow. During the appearance, she explained she has been living with her parents at their $US560,000 ($A855,000) home on a golf course since mid-June when her charges were upgraded and she was given an ankle monitor. The case shocked the world after details of the alleged sexual abuse first hit global headlines earlier this year. Formella was initially charged in March, with dramatic police bodycam footage showing the moment she was arrested. The special education teacher first met the then 14-year-old student in 2023 when she was his soccer coach, however, she later began tutoring the boy in private sessions after he broke his collarbone, documents obtained by TMZ allege. The pair then began messaging each other on a school platform, which prosecutors claim enabled Formella to give the boy her number so they could play '8-Ball Pool' on their phones. This contact then allegedly progressed to provocative texts, followed by a FaceTime meeting between the student and Formella. But it was in a classroom before school started in December of that year that the situation allegedly worsened. According to TMZ, the court documents claim Formella shut the door of the classroom and started kissing the victim, who reportedly fondled her, and she removed his clothes. They both allegedly took off her leggings, and he put on a condom and had sex with Formella. He was 15 and she was 28 at the time, prosecutors allege. Text messages between them show they allegedly later acknowledged to each other what they did was 'wrong', and never had sex again, with contact ending between them in February 2024. The details, described as 'sordid' by one US publication, come after alleged 'lurid' texts emerged amid the ongoing police investigation. Formella, who married her high school sweetheart in a lavish destination wedding in Italy's Amalfi Coast just nine months before the charges were laid, has claimed she's being 'framed for being good looking'. Her family have recently further fuelled allegations of being set up by claiming Formella is the victim of misogynistic 'sexist scrutiny' and bemoaned being painted as a 'predator', the New York Post reports. 'It's a spectacle — a public ritual that punishes women not for what they've done, but for how they're perceived,' a rep for Formella's family told the publication in a statement on Thursday. 'When men face accusations, we discuss evidence and procedure. When women face accusations, we attack their character, their choices, and their worth as human beings. 'This isn't justice — it's gender-based persecution disguised as accountability.' No date has been set yet for the trial, but Formella is facing a total of 55 charges in relation to the alleged sexual abuse of the 15-year-old student.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Teacher Accused of Sex Assault Wanted Smaller 'Buffer Zone' Keeping Her from Teen. The Judge Said No
Christina Formella, a former Illinois high school special education teacher, was arrested in March and is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage student multiple times Prosecutors alleged in court this week that Formella began grooming the boy when he was 14 and claimed she had sex with him 50 times Formella pleaded not guilty and faces up to 60 years in prison if convictedAn Illinois judge has denied a request to decrease the 'buffer zone' between a married teacher and the teenage student she is accused of sexually assaulting 50 times. Arrested during a traffic stop in March, the footage of which went viral on social media, Christina Formella, 30, a former special education teacher, is charged with 55 counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, grooming and indecent solicitation of a child. The judge allowed her to be released as she awaits trial on the condition that she refrain from contacting the teenage alleged victim or anyone under the age of 18, or enter Downers Grove South High School — where she'd been a teacher before resigning — DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in June. Part of her pre-trial release includes wearing a GPS monitor that prohibits her from coming within 5,000 feet of the alleged victim's home, school or workplace, the Chicago Tribune reports. Formella's attorney had asked the judge to reduce the buffer zone to 2,500 feet because the alleged victim works a mile from her home, which is in the larger buffer zone, according to the Chicago Tribune. But during Wednesday's hearing, which Formella attended with her husband, the judge denied the request, citing the need to ensure the safety of the alleged victim, according to the Chicago Tribune. Related: Married Teacher Cried When Cops Arrested Her — Then Came the Bombshell: Allegations She Assaulted Student 45 Times The alleged crimes came to light when the teen's mother found a disturbing text thread between her son and the teacher detailing their alleged relationship, prosecutors said. Formella was initially charged with one count of criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. In June, prosecutors unsealed dozens more counts, charging her with 55 total counts involving 'previously unknown sexual abuse and assault of the student,' Berlin said in a June 17 press release. Prosecutors allege that the sexual abuse began in January 2023, when the boy was 14, and continued through August/September 2024, Berlin said in the release. 'It is alleged that during this time, Formella sent the victim multiple text messages that were grooming in nature and that she and the victim had engaged in sexual acts approximately fifty times, both at the school and at Formella's home, including at least forty-five times at the school." Prosecutors allege that Formella kept a 'memoir' on her phone's notes app detailing her apparent anger at the teen, including writings that claimed the boy 'cheated on me.' 'We will never ever be together again,' Formella allegedly wrote. 'I'm not a second choice. I'm the best thing you'll ever have even with all of my mistakes.' Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Formella has denied ever having sex with the teen. Her attorney did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. The allegations against Formella "are beyond disturbing,' Berlin said in the June 17 release. Formella is scheduled to return to court on August 4, 2025. In a statement to PEOPLE, a spokesperson for the family of Formella said, in part: "The public shaming of women accused of sexual misconduct reflects deeply embedded patterns of misogyny that have persisted across generations. Christina has become the latest target of this troubling phenomenon — subjected to relentless personal attacks and sexist scrutiny that ignore the legal process entirely." The statement later added, "This isn't just a double standard. It's a spectacle — a public ritual that punishes women not for what they've done, but for how they're perceived. Instead of discussing facts or law, public discourse fixates on Christina's appearance, her private life, even her lipstick — as if those details bear on guilt or innocence. That's not legal analysis. It's voyeurism, moral judgment, and cruelty — excused by a self-serving performance of concern for an alleged victim." If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to Read the original article on People
The Sun
04-07-2025
- The Sun
‘Perv' teacher Christina Formella accused of raping boy 50 times claims she's being targeted because of good looks
A TEACHER accused of raping her 15-year-old student 50 times has moaned she is being targeted because of her good looks. Christina Formella, 30, claimed she is the victim of misogynistic "sexist scrutiny" and complained about being depicted as a "predator". 8 8 8 A spokesperson for her family told the New York Post: 'It's a spectacle — a public ritual that punishes women not for what they've done, but for how they're perceived." They added: 'When men face accusations, we discuss evidence and procedure. "When women face accusations, we attack their character, their choices, and their worth as human beings. 'This isn't justice — it's gender-based persecution disguised as accountability.' Formella, from Illinois, was arrested after the student approached cops alongside his mother to report that she had sexually abused him in a classroom session in December 2023. After further investigation, she is now accused of grooming him when he was 14 and having sex with him around 50 times after he turned 15 when she was 28. The majority of the abuse is said to have taken place at Downers Grove South High School, where Formella taught the teen. Prosecutors say the boy's mom discovered texts on his phone which revealed the alleged abuse and prompted her to contact the police. The teacher allegedly told the boy: "I love having sex with you." Formella has denied all the charges and insisted from the start that her appearance draws unfair treatment. Watch 'perv' teacher Christina Formella arrive at court with husband by her side…as she's accused of molesting teen boy During her initial police interview, she pleaded her innocence and claimed she is a 'good person' but said 'everybody' targets her because of her good looks, according to documents obtained by WGN9. She also claimed to be the victim of a "blackmail" plot, according to court docs. The document reads: "She claimed that one day, [the boy] had grabbed her phone unattended, had entered her passcode [...] had sent the message to his phone, had then deleted the message from her phone, and had saved it to his phone as blackmail." Her support base complained that media and content creators are fixating on specific details and making assumptions about her character. 8 The statement said: 'Instead of discussing facts or law, public discourse fixates on Christina's appearance, her private life, even her lipstick — as if those details bear on guilt or innocence. 'Christina has been splintered into internet caricatures — 'predator,' 'unfaithful wife,' 'hypocrite'.' They also claimed Formella had been "stalked" by people obsessed with the case, and said she has even been followed into church. "Christina's case isn't being 'covered' - she's being hunted," the family said. Police footage shows the educator being pulled over and cuffed by cops in front of her husband. She was originally charged during her first court appearance with two counts of sexual abuse and one count of sexual assault. But last month, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin levelled a further 52 counts at the teacher for a load more alleged sexual encounters with the same student. She was indicted on another 20 counts of sexual assault, 20 of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, six counts of indecent solicitation of a child and six counts of grooming. 8 8 An investigation following the initial report found that Formella allegedly had sex with the boy around 50 times between January 2023 and August of 2024, the court heard. During that time period, Berlin's office said, Formella allegedly sent the boy multiple text messages that were "grooming in nature." At least 45 of those occasions are believed the have taken place on the school grounds - and some in the marital home Formella shared with her husband. The abuse is said to have begun in 2023 and run throughout the engagement - only coming to an end when the student called it off in September 2024. Her husband, Michael Formella, has stuck by his wife's side and attended court with her.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Yahoo
Husband stands by Chicago teacher accused of having sex with student more than 50 times
The husband of a Chicago high school teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student more than 50 times is showing support for her after the couple arrived in court seeking to reduce the distance from her alleged victim. Christina Formella, a 30-year-old teacher at Downers Grove South High School, is facing 55 counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child and grooming. While Judge Mia McPherson denied an earlier request from the prosecution to hold Formella in custody while she awaits trial, a number of conditions were set for the former educator. One of the conditions requires Formella, a special education teacher and soccer coach, to wear a GPS tracker and live at least 5,000 feet (1,524 metres) away from the alleged victim's home, school and workplace. Formella's lawyer Todd Pugh asked the judge on Wednesday for the buffer be reduced from 5,000 feet to 2,500 feet, but the request was denied. Formella has been living with her parents since mid-June as the couple's marital home is within the exclusion zone mandated by the court. After the judge denied the request, Pugh said outside the courtroom that Formella has 'a great family, plenty of support,' reports the Chicago Tribune. Meanwhile, a person who sat behind the couple inside the courtroom on Wednesday revealed that they were smiling during the proceedings. 'Michael was holding her hand the entire time,' the source told the New York Post. 'They were smiling at each other, literally smiling at each other the entire time until she got up. They look really confident.' Formella was arrested and charged in mid-March after the alleged victim and his family went to the Downers Grove Police Department to report claims of inappropriate sexual contact. Following an investigation, the 15-year-old victim revealed further allegations of sexual abuse that dated back to January 2023 and continued through August/September 2024. 'It is alleged that during this time, Formella sent the victim multiple text messages that were grooming in nature and that she and the victim had engaged in sexual acts approximately 50 times, both at the school and at Formella's home, including at least 45 times at the school,' the DuPage County State's Attorney Office said in a statement on June 17 in which 52 additional charges were announced. DuPage County state attorney Robert Berlin called the new allegations 'beyond disturbing.' 'I thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward during what I image is an extremely difficult time for him,' Berlin said. Teacher's careless whispers about sex romps with teen brings charges Teacher accused of having sex with boy, 14, hit with 52 more charges
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Daily Mail
'Predator' teacher, 30, makes jaw-dropping claim as she is accused of 'raping boy 50 times and sent damning text messages'
An ousted special education teacher who allegedly raped a former student has blamed the accusation on being 'good looking' and now claims she is the victim of misogyny. Christina Formella, 30, has long denied allegations that she engaged in an inappropriate relationship with the unidentified teenage student, whom prosecutors say she sent explicit text messages and raped more than 50 times. She is now facing a total of 55 criminal charges, including criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child and grooming. But Formella's family is now claiming she is just the victim of 'sexist scrutiny,' the New York Post reports. 'It's a spectacle - a public ritual that publishes women not for what they've done, but for how they're perceived,' a representative for the family told the outlet. 'When men face accusations, we discuss evidence and procedure. When women face accusations, we attack their character, their choices and their worth as human beings,' the family rep continued. 'This isn't justice - it's gender-based persecution disguised as accountability.' The representative for the family went on to explain that the 'public discourse' around Formella's case focuses on her 'appearance, her private life [and] even her lipstick - as if those details bear on guilt or innocence.' He also hit out at 'Internet caricatures' that call Formella a '"predator," "unfaithful wife" [and] "hypocrite,"' and claimed the coverage of the former teacher and soccer coach's alleged crimes have turned into 'real-world stalking' by 'so-called content creators.' Formella was even once followed to church, 'violating the sanctity of worship and terrorizing her family,' the representative said. 'Christina's case isn't being "covered" - she's being hunted,' he continued in a statement, adding that Formella has become the victim of 'bullying.' 'Reckless speculation, misinformation and theatrical coverage do nothing to serve justice and set hard-won respect for women back decades,' the representative concluded. Prosecutors have said Formella began an illicit relationship with the boy when he was just 14 years old and a member of the soccer team she coached at Downers Grove South High School. Formella had taken it upon herself to privately tutor the teen before class after an injury sidelined him. But prosecutors say the arrangement became more sinister when the special education teacher started sending the teenager flirtatious messages using the school's messaging system. Their exchanges eventually moved to text, with the alleged pedophile at one point telling the teen she 'loved' him and that he was 'perfect,' according to messages previously revealed in court. The relationship then allegedly turned physical inside her classroom in December 2023, when she was 28 and the boy was 15. The allegations first came to light in March, after the boy's mother stumbled upon the text messages on his phone, including one in which Formella allegedly wrote: 'I love having sex with you'. DuPage County prosecutors had initially believed the sordid affair culminated in a single sexual encounter following months of their inappropriate messages. But they say further evidence revealed the pair had sex more than 50 times, most of the time in her classroom but also multiple times at the home she shared with her unsuspecting husband, Michael. Formella even allegedly kept a 'memoir' on her phone during the relationship. 'I warned you that we should never have started dating a long long long fking time ago and you gas lit me and convinced me it was fine,' she allegedly said of the teen boy. 'We WILL be in each other's lives forever. We will be able to love each other while also living our own lives,' the diary added. Formella later claimed the writings were part of a therapeutic journaling exercise, and insisted that any sexual references in the entries were about her husband. Yet in a message to the boy, prosecutors say, Formella said she planned to dump her husband and abscond with his family's vast fortune. The couple had tied the knot last year, just weeks before her alleged sordid affair with the teen reportedly fizzled out in September. When the allegations of Formella's relationship then emerged earlier this year, Michael said he was left 'completely blindsided' by the allegations and swore he had no clue his wife was allegedly abusing an underage boy - despite their sexual activities at his house and his wife allegedly texting the teen while they were vacationing in Italy. Still, Michael has been by his wife's side at court hearings, as has his father, Randy Formella. They were even pictured supporting Formella when she appeared in court earlier this week to brazenly ask a judge to slash the distance she must keep from the alleged victim. She has been required to keep a 5,000-foot buffer zone from the boy since her charges were upgraded last month. That meant that she had to leave her marital home, and Christina has been holed up at her parents' $560,000 home on a golf course ever since. But in a bold request on Wednesday, she asked the court to slash that distance in half to just 2,500 feet, arguing the boy often hangs out with friends near her house and even has a job in the area. Judge Mia McPherson ultimately rejected her argument and denied the motion.
