Teacher Accused of Assault Claims Student Setup

A Downers Grove South High School teacher is alleging a setup by a 15-year-old student as she faces serious sexual assault charges. Christina Formella, a special education teacher and soccer coach, claims the student fabricated evidence of inappropriate contact and is targeting her due to her caring nature.

According to court documents, Formella asserts the teen gained access to her phone, used it to send suggestive messages to himself, and then saved those messages as leverage. The documents detail her claim that the student entered her passcode and sent a message to his own phone before deleting it from hers.

The allegations stem from inappropriate messages discovered on the student’s phone last month by his mother, prompting a complaint to the Downers Grove police. Formella has been charged with two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of criminal sexual assault.

A message reportedly sent by Formella to the student in 2023 reads, “I love having sex with you.” The student allegedly responded with a lengthy and explicit message expressing reciprocal affection.

Formella, 30, reportedly told authorities she believes she is being targeted due to her appearance and compassionate nature.

Don Renner, President of the Board of Education, stated the school is encouraging anyone with information regarding the situation to come forward to police or school officials, assuring that all reports will be taken seriously.

This case presents a deeply troubling situation with conflicting narratives. While Formella alleges a setup, the existence of explicit messages, as detailed in court documents, raises significant concerns. The allegations are serious and require thorough investigation. It’s crucial to remember that these are allegations at this stage, and Formella is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The focus should remain on ensuring the well-being of all involved, particularly the student, and allowing the legal process to unfold fairly. The claim of being targeted for being “good-looking” and “caring” appears to be a deflection tactic and does little to address the gravity of the accusations.

Formella is scheduled to appear in court on April 14.