CHICAGO: A former high school teacher from a Chicago suburb, Christina Formella 30, is facing 52 new criminal charges after being accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old male student over the course of nearly two years.
Formella, who previously worked at Downers Grove South High School in Illinois, was initially arrested in March 2025 during a traffic stop. At that time, she was charged with criminal sexual assault, aggravated sexual abuse, and criminal sexual abuse involving a minor. However, a recent investigation has now led to dozens of additional charges.
Authorities allege that Formella’s inappropriate relationship with the student began in January 2023 and continued until at least September 2024.
The victim, who was only 15 when the abuse began, came forward alongside his parents and filed a report with the Downers Grove Police Department.
According to court documents, the first known incident took place inside a classroom during a tutoring session before school hours.
The case escalated when the victim’s mother discovered disturbing text messages between her son and a number she recognized as Formella’s after accessing her son’s iCloud on a new phone.
Further forensic analysis of Formella’s phone revealed several explicit references to the student in her notes app. When questioned, Formella claimed the writings were simply a coping mechanism for her anxiety and insisted any sexual references were about her husband.
Despite this, the victim later detailed that sexual activity occurred approximately 50 times, both at school and in Formella’s home, and that he had received numerous grooming messages from her over time.
On June 17, 2025, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office formally indicted Formella on 52 additional charges, including:
-
20 counts of criminal sexual assault
-
20 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse
-
6 counts of grooming
-
6 counts of indecent solicitation of a child
Though prosecutors requested her pre-trial release be revoked, a judge once again granted her release under strict conditions, including no contact with the victim or anyone under 18, and no presence at the high school.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said, The grooming allegations and abuse spanning nearly two years are beyond disturbing.
I commend the bravery of the young victim and thank our investigators and legal team for their dedication to protecting children.
Formella is due back in court on Monday, August 4, 2025.
