DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — A special education teacher and soccer coach at Downers Grove South High School faces three sexual abuse charges following allegations of misconduct involving a 15-year-old student. shocked
Christina Formella, 30, married, was arrested on Sunday, 30-3-2025, during a traffic stop and taken into custody. The investigation began Saturday when the boy, accompanied by his mother, reported the alleged sexual contact to police. According to authorities, Formella was the boy’s soccer coach and tutor at the time of the incident.
Police say the alleged assault occurred in December 2023 during a tutoring session in a classroom before school hours. Formella has served as a volunteer soccer coach for both the boys’ and girls’ teams since 2021. The boy’s mother uncovered the alleged abuse after reviewing his cellphone.
In an interview with detectives, Formella denied any sexual contact with the minor. Court documents reveal she claimed, “Everybody comes after her because she is good-looking and she is just a good person who cared too much about the boy.”
She faces two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault against a minor. At her initial court appearance, prosecutors’ request to detain her was denied. Formella was released with conditions, including no contact with anyone under 18 and a ban from entering the school premises.