(The Lion) — An Illinois high school teacher faces 55 charges connected to an alleged two-year affair with a teenage student.
Christina Formella, 30, allegedly groomed and then sexually assaulted a student on a soccer team she was coaching.
The student was 14 when they met, and she reportedly targeted him during the first month of school. Prosecutors allege more than 50 instances of sexual activity between them from January 2023 to September 2024.
The sexual assaults took place in her classroom at Downers Grove South High School, and at least five times in her nearby home during school hours, according to court documents. Downers Grove is an affluent Chicago suburb.
Prosecutor Jaclyn McAndrew said one text message between the two referenced almost being caught by a teacher, the Daily Herald reported. In another message, Formella allegedly said one of her neighbors had been charged with a similar sort of crime and that she didn’t want the same thing to happen to her.
The alleged affair was discovered in March when the boy’s mother found messages from Formella on his phone, including phrases such as “I love you sooooo much baby… Even though this morning was short, it was perfect” and “I love having sex with you.”
Formella, who was released after a hearing Tuesday but is wearing a GPS monitor to ensure she has no contact with the boy, has said the boy entered those messages in her phone in an attempt to blackmail her.
Police also found a “memoir” note in her phone describing the affair and its breakup. “We will never ever be together again,” the note said. “I’m not a second choice. I’m the best thing you’ll ever have even with all my mistakes.”
Formella has said any such notes are about her husband.
She was placed on paid leave from her job after the allegations surfaced in March and is prohibited from school property and from having contact with minors.
The teacher, who got married last summer, allegedly told the boy she did not intend to marry her husband, and that he was having an affair with her best friend and was going to leave her, which would result in her receiving millions of dollars.
Her husband, Michael Formella, has stood by her during court appearances. He is reportedly part of a family-owned food business in Chicago, which could be the source of his wealth.
Formella pleaded not guilty to three charges during an April hearing, but prosecutors added 52 more after interviewing the student a second time. She said she is being targeted because she is attractive and cared so much for the boy, tutoring him privately after he broke his collarbone.
McAndrew called her “unbelievably conniving” and “unbelievably controlling” during Tuesday’s hearing.
A video of her March arrest shows her reacting with utter disbelief when told of the charges against her.
“Oh my God. What the f***?” she said. “I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”
If convicted on all counts, she could face 60 years in prison. Her next court appearance is Aug. 4.
