Special Education Teacher Accused of Sexually Abusing Boy, 15, During Tutoring Session

An Illinois special education teacher has been charged with sexual abuse after being accused of assaulting a 15-year-old student.

Christina Formella, 30, was taken into custody after a teenage boy and his mother visited a local police station in Downers Grove — a Chicago suburb — to report that the child had been sexually abused, according to police.

Formella, the boy’s tutor and soccer coach, is now facing abuse charges, DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and Downers Grove Police Chief Michael DeVries said in a statement.

Police claim that the alleged abuse began in Dec. 2023, when Formella, then 28, was alone in a Downers Grove South High School classroom to tutor the boy, then 15, before school started, per the statement.

On Friday, the boy’s mother found a text thread on her son’s cell phone between the teen and Formella, authorities said, where they detailed their alleged sexual relationship.

Formella was arrested during a traffic stop on Sunday. She denied the alleged abuse when questioned by police.

Formella, who’d taught in the high school’s special services department since the 2020-21 school year, also coached boys’ and girls’ soccer. 

“The allegations against Ms. Formella are extremely disturbing,” Berlin said. “The type of abuse and behavior alleged in this case will not be tolerated.”

In an email message sent to parents at the high school, Principal Arwen Lyp wrote, per WGNTV, “We are devastated, and our community is reeling. An adult has been charged with the most serious of violations, and trust has been broken.”

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Lyp also promised to contact the parents of other students who’d had direct contact with Formella.

Formella has been charged with one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse, one count of Criminal Sexual Assault, and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse and is now on paid administrative leave from the school, according to the DuPage County statement. 

The teacher was released after her first court appearance under the conditions that she not have contact with anyone under 18. She was also forbidden entry to the high school. It’s unclear if she’s retained a lawyer to speak on her behalf.

Formella’s next court appearance is set for April 14, 2025.