Illinois Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault Claims Student Fabricated Evidence

Christina Formella, a 30-year-old special education teacher, denies allegations of a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student as newly released bodycam footage captures her emotional arrest.

Christina Formella has been charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student in December 2023.
The allegations surfaced after the victim’s mother discovered explicit text messages on her son's phone, leading to a police investigation and Formella's arrest on March 16, 2025.
Formella denies the charges, claiming the student fabricated the text messages by accessing her phone and using them as part of a blackmail scheme.
Bodycam footage of her arrest, released on April 1, 2025, shows Formella visibly distressed, repeatedly stating she felt like she was going to throw up while being detained.
Formella remains on administrative leave, barred from contacting minors or entering school grounds, and is scheduled to appear in court on April 14, 2025.