Latest news with #DownersGrove
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Charges pile up for ex-teacher accused of sexually abusing student
An indictment has been unsealed in the case of former Downers Grove, Illinois, high school teacher Christina Formella, who faces dozens of new charges for allegedly sexually abusing a student. Abby Escobar, a true-crime digital creator known as Abby Blabby, joins 'Banfield' to discuss what transpired in court this week. #Crime #SexualAbuse #Teacher
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Teacher accused of having sex with boy, 14, hit with 52 more charges
An Illinois high school teacher who was busted in March for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old student now faces dozens of additional charges. Christina Formella, 30, who was arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of a male student in what was initially believed to be an isolated incident, now faces more than 50 additional charges after investigators allege they found 'hundreds if not thousands of text messages' between the teacher and the boy, the Chicago Tribune reported. The former Downers Grove South High School teacher now faces 55 charges – 52 new charges in addition to the original three – including multiple counts of criminal sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child and grooming. Michael Formella – the accused's husband of one year who was in the car with her when she was first arrested – held his wife's hand as they arrived in Illinois court on Tuesday, photos obtained by the New York Post show. She was arraigned on 20 counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault, plus multiple counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child and six counts of grooming. Prosecutors urged the judge to revoke Formella's bail and lock her up. 'She knew what she was doing was wrong,' prosecutor Jaclyn McAndrew said, according to the Tribune, adding that she 'is unbelievably conniving and unbelievably controlling.' There was also evidence the ex-special education teacher told the boy she did not intend to marry her husband, that her husband was having an affair with her best friend and was going to leave her, and that she would then have millions of dollars, according to the Daily Herald. But while the judge called the case 'horrifying in nature,' 'shocking' and 'appalling,' she allowed her to walk free with an ankle monitor. Formella is accused of grooming the boy before engaging in about 50 'sexual acts' with him between January 2023 and September 2024 in classrooms and at her home during school hours, the prosecutor's office said. Texas teacher slept with student who she saw as 'little brother': Cops Married Ohio teacher jailed for sex with 17-year-old student Former teacher of the year gets 30 years for sexually assaulting students The sexual relationship ended when the boy said it was wrong, the State's Attorney's Office said. If convicted, she faces up to 60 years in prison.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Married Teacher Cried When Cops Arrested Her — Then Came the Bombshell: Allegations She Assaulted Student 45 Times
Christina Formella, a former Illinois high school special education teacher, was arrested in March and charged with sexually abusing a 15-year-old student Prosecutors alleged in court this week that Formella began grooming the boy when he was 14 and claimed she had sex with him at least 45 times Formella faces up to 60 years in prison if convictedChristina Formella, the former special education teacher who is charged with sexually abusing one of her students, appeared in an Illinois courtroom Tuesday where prosecutors unveiled dozens more accusations against her. Formella, 30, was arrested in March and accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old student after the mother of the student found a concerning text thread between her son and the teacher detailing their alleged relationship. The Downers Grove High School teacher was initially charged with one count of criminal sexual assault and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, as the school put her on leave. This week, however, the Chicago Tribune, ABC 7 and WRIC reported that prosecutors unsealed dozens more counts, charging her with 55 total counts in what authorities allege is a years-long case of sexual abuse. Formella, who has since resigned from her job at the school, is accused of grooming the boy since he was 14 and having sex with him on at least 45 occasions, according to the Tribune, including at school, during school hours, and at her home. '(Formella) knew what she was doing was wrong,' DuPage County State's Attorney Jaclyn McAndrew said, according to the Tribune, adding that the accused former teacher 'is unbelievably conniving and unbelievably controlling.' The prosecutor said investigators have discovered 'hundreds if not thousands of text messages' that align with what the teenage boy told investigators earlier this year. Earlier this year, PEOPLE reported that Formella broke down in tears when she was arrested and said she was 'going to throw up.' Authorities later alleged her cellphone contained text messages to the boy, including one that read, 'I love having sex with you,' according to court documents. Formella initially told police that the student was a "stalker" and that her husband was aware of the boy's behavior. However, authorities say her husband merely told investigators he only knew the teen as a soccer player and did not know about any inappropriate relationship. He also reportedly said he does not go through Formella's phone and was unaware of any messages between them. Prosecutors also alleged 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. An attempt to contact her attorney was unsuccessful Wednesday. The Tribune reported that Judge Mia McPherson called the details of the case 'horrifying in nature' and 'shocking' on Tuesday during Formella's arraignment. The former teacher faces up to 60 years in prison, the newspaper reported. 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
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Husband stands by married teacher who had allegedly groomed her student
The husband of American teacher Christina Formella accused of raping a 15-year-old student stood by his wife as she arrived in court Tuesday to face accusations that she abused the teenager 45 times. Formella, 30, is now staring down dozens of new criminal counts, including sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, indecent solicitation of a child and grooming, according to the Chicago Tribune. She walked up to DuPage County Circuit Court in Illinois hand-in-hand with her spouse, Michael, and accompanied by her defence team, according to footage obtained by The Post from TikTokker Abby Blabby. The couple did not speak as they entered the courthouse. Formella was accused by prosecutors of grooming the teen boy before sexually assaulting him at least 45 times, including while classes were in session at Downers Grove South High School and at her home, The Tribune reported. She was initially only charged with three criminal counts and pleaded not guilty to the slew of new charges Tuesday. Formella married Michael, her childhood sweetheart, in a lavish destination wedding in Italy's Amalfi Coast last July – just nine months before the charges were laid. Formella was initially charged in March, with dramatic police bodycam footage showing the moment she realised she was the subject of police investigation. The special education teacher first met the student in 2023 when she was his first-year soccer coach but then began tutoring the boy in private sessions after he broke his collarbone, documents obtained by TMZ allege. Within weeks the young educator is accused of initially messaging the boy on a digital school platform – which then quickly escalated into 'flirty texts' and eventually to an alleged sexual assault during a tutoring session in a classroom. The horrifying extent of the alleged abuse only came to light several months later when the boy's mum bought him a new phone and uncovered a string of 'inappropriate' texts from his former teacher. Text messages allegedly exchanged between the pair include one which read, 'I love having sex with you,' as others contained 'lurid lines' she reportedly sent the boy, the New York Post reported on March 19. 'I love you so so much mama,' the boy sent Formella in one text. 'I love you sooooo much baby … Even though this morning was short, it was perfect,' the teacher, then 28, allegedly responded. 'I know baby it was perfect baby so perfect,' the boy replied back, before Formella opined about how much she loved having sex with him. 'I know baby I love it so much … It feels so good … It's so passionate … It's so intimate … It's so perfect,' the boy said. 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. Formella first appeared in court in April this year. According to the New York Post, Formella 'appeared glammed up with a full face of make-up' as she entered the DuPage County Courthouse. On that occasion, Michael reportedly sat 'emotionless in court' as the prosecution went over the charges against his wife, and set out how — if convicted — she would have to sign on to the sex offender registry. Her father-in-law, Randy Formella, was also in court, the New York Post reported. The Formella family – who run an Italian food manufacturing business – haven't spoken publicly about the allegations.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Former Downers Grove teacher indicted on dozens of new sexual abuse charges: prosecutors
The Brief Christina Formella, a former Downers Grove South teacher, was indicted on 52 additional counts of sexual abuse and assault involving a student, prosecutors said. The alleged abuse began in January 2023 and continued through August/September 2024, including grooming and about 50 incidents at school and her home. Formella was released pretrial with conditions barring contact with the victim and minors; she is due back in court on Aug. 4. DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. - A former Downers Grove South High School teacher previously charged with having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student now faces 52 additional counts of sexual abuse and assault, prosecutors said. What we know Christina Formella, 30, appeared at a status hearing Tuesday morning, where the state filed a second petition to deny her pretrial release. The request was denied, according to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office. On May 20, a DuPage County grand jury returned a true bill against Formella, charging her with: 20 counts of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 felony) 20 counts of agg. criminal sexual abuse (Class 1 felony) Six counts of indecent solicitation of a child (Class 3 felony) Six counts of grooming (Class 4 felony) Formella first appeared in court on March 17 on one count each of aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual assault, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, prosecutors said. After that hearing, the court denied the state's motion to detain her pretrial. She was released with conditions barring her from entering the high school or contacting the victim or anyone under 18, prosecutors said. The backstory On March 15, the victim, then 15 years old, and his parents reported the inappropriate sexual contact to the Downers Grove Police Department. Formella was the student's soccer coach and tutor at the time. Further investigation by Downers Grove police and the DuPage County Children's Advocacy Center led to the original charges. On April 17, the victim and his parents returned to the advocacy center and disclosed additional sexual abuse, prosecutors said. The abuse allegedly began in January 2023 and continued through August or September 2024. The alleged sexual abuse began in January 2023 through August/September 2024. During that time, Formella allegedly sent the victim multiple "grooming" text messages and engaged in sexual acts with him about 50 times — both at the school and at her home, with at least 45 incidents occurring at the school, the state's attorney said. What they're saying "The new allegations against Ms. Formella, including the allegations of grooming and that the abuse lasted nearly two years, are beyond disturbing," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said. "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. I also thank the DuPage County Children's Center, particularly Investigator George Fencl, as well as Assistant State's Attorneys Jaclyn McAndrew and Michael Fisher for their work not only in this case but for their continued efforts protecting our children." What's next Formella is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 4.
