Latest news with #Formella
Metro
04-07-2025
- Metro
Family of teacher accused of sexually abusing boy say she's 'victim of sexism'
A married teacher accused of sexually abusing a pupil dozens of times over two years is a victim of 'sexist scrutiny', her family have said. Christina Formella, 30, denies grooming the boy, who was 14 and a member of the football team she coached at Downers Grove South High School in Illinois when she allegedly began sending him flirty messages. Prosecutors say the relationship turned physical when he was 15 and she was 28, and claim to have evidence they had sex 50 times – mostly in her classroom but also in the home she shared with her husband. After her arrest Formella told detectives the boy was obsessed with her because she is 'good looking', claiming 'everybody comes after her' as a result. On Thursday, a representative for her family said she is not a predator, insisting: 'It's a spectacle — a public ritual that punishes women not for what they've done, but for how they're perceived.' In a statement shared with the New York Post, the rep added: 'When men face accusations, we discuss evidence and procedure. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video '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. '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,'.' Court documents allegedly detail a string of sordid messages from Formella to the boy, at one point telling him: 'I love having sex with you.' 'I love you sooooo much baby… Even though this morning was short, it was perfect,' another said. The boy's mother signed into her son's iCloud account after buying him a new phone and allegedly saw some of the text messages between him and Formella. Prosecutors also say the teacher wrote about her student in her Notes app but initially told cops that they were an 'outlet for her anxiety' and that sexual references were about her husband. Formella claims the boy broke into her phone and sent the inappropriate messages to himself in order to later blackmail her. She faces 55 charges including criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child and grooming. She and her husband Michael tied the knot last year, a few weeks before her alleged relationship with the teenager ended. More Trending Michael has said he was 'completely blindsided' by the allegations and has remained by his wife's side at court hearings. The school has placed Formella on administrative leave and is cooperating with an investigation into the matter. 'We are devastated, and our community is reeling,' stated Downers Grove South Principal Arwen Lyp. 'An adult has been charged with the most serious of violations, and trust has been broken. Our team is here to support students who are impacted by this terrible news.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Drug dealer John Belfield who plotted love-rival's murder with help from victim's ex jailed MORE: Charles Bronson fumes at prison treatment and vows to 'walk not crawl out' MORE: First picture of 'hardworking' man stabbed to death at his flat in Victoria Park
India Today
04-07-2025
- India Today
US teacher denied plea to live near teen she sexually abused over 50 times
A former Illinois special education teacher and soccer coach, Christina Formella, appeared in a DuPage County courtroom this week, smiling and holding hands with her husband, as she requested permission to move closer to the teenage former student she is accused of abusing court denied her request to reduce the buffer zone that currently prevents her from living near the alleged 30, is facing 52 criminal charges, including aggravated sexual abuse and assault. Prosecutors allege that she engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student, beginning when he was 15 and she was 28. The reported abuse allegedly took place more than 50 times, mostly on school premises and sometimes in her marital home. Formella's defense argued that the current 5,000-foot buffer zone was impractical because the teenager spends time near her neighborhood and even works in the area. She has been living with her parents since her bond conditions were modified in June and is required to wear an ankle monitor, which she appeared to conceal with loose clothing in say the teacher initiated the relationship while the boy was on her soccer team. After he sustained an injury, Formella allegedly began tutoring him privately. The case came to light in March when the boy's mother discovered text messages on his phone, which led investigators to uncover more explicit content and a personal journal found on Formella's the serious nature of the allegations, Formella's husband, Michael Formella - an heir to a prominent Chicago-based food company - has remained publicly supportive. The couple, college sweethearts, had married shortly before the alleged relationship ended. Her father-in-law has also attended court hearings but declined to claim Formella planned to leave her husband and pursue a future with the teen, and that she often communicated with the boy during family vacations. While the defense argues she is being unfairly targeted, officials describe her behavior as manipulative and court denied her motion to amend the restraining order, and investigations are ongoing.- Ends
New York Post
02-07-2025
- New York Post
Husband of alleged perv teacher Christina Formella defiantly holds her hand for court, refuses to answer questions after wife accused of dozens of heinous sex crimes
WHEATON, Ill. — Alleged dirty teacher Christina Formella's husband defiantly held her hand as she swished into into court with him Wednesday morning — even after she was accused last month of sexually abused a teenage student more than 50 times. Neither Formella or her husband, Michael, answered any questions as they walked into the DuPage County Circuit Court in suburban Chicago. Michael Formella has accompanied his 30-year-old bride to court for each of her appearances so far. Christina Formella was given an ankle monitor last month when the charges against her were upgraded — but cleverly hid it with baggy black pants. Advertisement 4 Husband of accused dirty teacher Christina Formella holds her hand as they walk into court. LP Media 4 Teacher Christina Formella is accused of dozens of heinous sex crimes. CUCWSOC/X 4 Christina Formella faces dozens of charges. DuPage County State's Attorney's Office Last month, Formella was hit with 52 additional charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault. The former Downers Grove special education teacher was arrested in March and is accused of raping her teenage student at least 50 times — including at least 45 times at the school. Advertisement She and her husband are college sweethearts and married just last year, about six months after the alleged abuse. 4 Teacher Christina Formella is arrested in front of her home. DuPage County Sheriff Prosecutors say Formella told the boy that she would leave her husband and take him for millions. Michael Formella is the scion of a Chicagoland Italian good purveyor.
New York Post
21-06-2025
- New York Post
Accused pervert teacher Christina Formella makes high school yearbook despite charges for raping teen
Accused pervert teacher Christina Formella may not work at Downers Grove South High School in suburban Chicago anymore, but she can still be seen in its latest yearbook — not once, but three times. Formella, who married her high school sweetheart in August, was arrested in March for raping a teenage student roughly 50 times. She surrendered her 'professional educator license' on June 17, according to documents obtained by The Post from the Illinois State Board of Education. 4 Christina Formella appears twice in the new yearbook. Obtained by the New York Post She's been charged with 55 crimes, including aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sex abuse and grooming. If convicted, Formella, 30, could be sentenced to 60 years. The school's recently released 2024-25 yearbook features Formella's headshot as well as group photos showing her posing with the boys' soccer team and JV girls' soccer teams she coached. 4 Formella also posed with the boys' soccer team. @hiemilynoelle/True Crime w/ Em Formella's husband has stood by her side during court appearances. Prosecutors have alleged Formella started grooming the victim when he was 14. 4 She also appeared with the JV soccer team. Obtained by the New York Post Investigators allege she raped the teen at least 45 times at the school where she was a special education teacher. 4 Formella's husband has been supporting her in court. LP Media She also raped the boy five times at her home during school hours, according to prosecutors. Formella, who denied assaulting the teen and has claimed she was being blackmailed by her accuser, insisted she was being targeted because she was 'good-looking.' The illicit relationship began in January 2023, and the boy ended it in September, prosecutors said. A school spokesperson told The Post the printing of the yearbooks began in March, prior to the arrest. 'Even so, Formella was an employee of the school district, and so is included in the yearbook,' the spokesperson said.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Christina Formella case: What are the charges against former Downers Grove teacher
The former teacher of Downers Grove South High School, who is accused of sexually abusing a minor student, has been charged with 55 criminal counts. Christina Formella, 30, is accused of engaging in an extended, manipulative relationship with a student that allegedly began when the boy was just 14 years old. On Tuesday, she was arraigned in DuPage County Circuit Court on 52 additional charges, following the initial three counts she faced after her March arrest. ALSO READ| Christina Formella family: All on the ex-Downers Grove teacher's husband, Michael Formella The new charges include multiple counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child, and grooming. Prosecutors say Formella used her authority and access as a teacher to create a damaging and coercive relationship with the boy, who later came forward with his mother to report the abuse to Downers Grove police. Community High School District 99 said Formella resigned from her position at the school and voluntarily surrendered her teaching license on Monday, the day before her court appearance. Prosecutor Jaclyn McAndrew told Judge Mia McPherson that the abuse lasted nearly two years and that Formella had sex with the student 'at least 45 times, including at school, during school hours and at her home.' '(Formella) knew what she was doing was wrong,' McAndrew said, adding that the former teacher 'is unbelievably conniving and unbelievably controlling.' McAndrew also told the court that Formella manipulated the boy into turning off the location tracking on his phone and made him feel guilty and ashamed about their interactions. She argued that Formella posed an ongoing threat to the victim and the community, especially since she lives near the high school. McAndrew pushed for the judge to revoke Formella's bail and detain her under Illinois' SAFE-T Act, saying, 'no conditions could mitigate the threat that Formella poses.' But Judge Mia McPherson denied that request. While she acknowledged the allegations as 'horrifying in nature,' 'shocking,' and 'appalling,' the judge concluded that the general public was not at risk and that further restrictions could be placed to protect the alleged victim. ALSO READ| Who is Christina Formella? Illinois special education teacher, 30, arrested for allegedly molesting 15-year-old student Formella is now required to wear a GPS ankle monitor, surrender her passport, and cannot leave Illinois without the court's permission. Now, if convicted, Christina Formella faces up to 60 years in prison, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
