Downers Grove South HS teacher charged with sex abuse after teen's mom finds explicit texts: docs

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. (WLS) -- A Downers Grove South High School high school soccer coach and teacher has been charged with sexually abusing a student during a tutoring session.

Christina Formella, a 30-year-old teacher and coach, was arrested during a traffic stop on Sunday. The arrest came more than a year after the alleged assault, which prosecutors say came to light after sexually explicit text messages were discovered recently.

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The school released a statement, saying Christina Formella, who has worked at the school for five years, was placed on administrative leave with pay. She has been charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

The Community High School District 99 School Board held a meeting on Monday night, just hours after the school notified families of Formella's arrest.

"We are heartbroken for the victim and also for the hundreds of students, staff, and family who trusted this teacher and feel betrayed by this terrible situation," said District 99 School Board President Don Renner.

Prosecutors say the assault happened in a classroom at Downers Grove South in December 2023.

The alleged victim was 15 years old at the time and was meeting with the teacher for a tutoring session before school.

"Our top focus now is to support the victim and their family and to ensure the well being and safety of all of our students," Renner said.

According to a message from the school, Formella is a special services teacher and a soccer coach for the girls and boys teams at the school. The alleged victim was also on the soccer team.

Though the alleged assault happened 15 months ago, authorities say the student and his mother reported the incident to police on Saturday. Prosecutors say that mother bought her son a new iPhone, and after signing into iCloud, discovered a sexually explicit text message thread.

The exchanges, too graphic for ABC7 to show, are detailed in a petition filed by DuPage County prosecutors that sought pretrial detention for Formella.

A judge denied the state's request to hold her in jail pending trial on Monday, but released her with the condition she not enter the high school or have contact with anyone under 18 years old.

School officials say they are now working to contact families of other students who had direct contact with Formella.

"We will continue to address the situation with urgency and transparency. We are committed to protecting our students and ensuring that they feel safe," Renner said.

Principal Arwen Lyp's statement said, in part, "We are devastated, and our community is reeling. 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."

"We encourage anyone who needs to share concerns about safety with us. You can do so anonymously at any time at Safe2Help Illinois, by contacting your student's school counselor, or by contacting me directly," the statement continued.

DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin said in a statement, "It is alleged that she used her position of trust and authority as a tutor and a coach to sexually assault a minor student. The type of abuse and behavior alleged in this case will not be tolerated."

Formella is due back in court on April 14. The district is asking anyone with more information to share it with police.