A former Illinois special education teacher and soccer coach, Christina Formella, appeared in a DuPage County courtroom this week, smiling and holding hands with her husband, as she requested permission to move closer to the teenage former student she is accused of abusing repeatedly.
The court denied her request to reduce the buffer zone that currently prevents her from living near the alleged victim.
Formella, 30, is facing 52 criminal charges, including aggravated sexual abuse and assault. Prosecutors allege that she engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student, beginning when he was 15 and she was 28. The reported abuse allegedly took place more than 50 times, mostly on school premises and sometimes in her marital home.
Formella’s defense argued that the current 5,000-foot buffer zone was impractical because the teenager spends time near her neighborhood and even works in the area. She has been living with her parents since her bond conditions were modified in June and is required to wear an ankle monitor, which she appeared to conceal with loose clothing in court.
Authorities say the teacher initiated the relationship while the boy was on her soccer team. After he sustained an injury, Formella allegedly began tutoring him privately. The case came to light in March when the boy’s mother discovered text messages on his phone, which led investigators to uncover more explicit content and a personal journal found on Formella’s device.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Formella’s husband, Michael Formella – an heir to a prominent Chicago-based food company – has remained publicly supportive. The couple, college sweethearts, had married shortly before the alleged relationship ended. Her father-in-law has also attended court hearings but declined to comment.
Prosecutors claim Formella planned to leave her husband and pursue a future with the teen, and that she often communicated with the boy during family vacations. While the defense argues she is being unfairly targeted, officials describe her behavior as manipulative and obsessive.
The court denied her motion to amend the restraining order, and investigations are ongoing.