Accused Perv Teacher Christina Formella Smiles in Court with Hubby, Asks Judge to Let Her Move Near Student She 'Sexually Abused 50 Times'

WHEATON, Ill. — Christina Formella, a former special education teacher, appeared in DuPage County court on Wednesday, hand in hand with her husband, Michael, as she sought permission to move closer to a former student she is accused of sexually abusing over 50 times.

With a confident demeanor, the couple exchanged smiles throughout the proceedings. Observers noted their apparent ease, with one witness commenting, “They looked really confident.” Despite the gravity of the situation, neither addressed the media regarding the ongoing case that has drawn significant attention in suburban Chicago.

Since mid-June, Formella has been residing with her parents in a $560,000 home on a golf course after being placed under an ankle monitor following upgraded charges. She cleverly concealed the device beneath wide-leg pants.

The couple's home lies within a mandated 5,000-foot buffer zone from the alleged victim, as stated by her legal team. In court, Formella requested that this distance be halved to 2,500 feet, citing that the boy frequently visits friends nearby and works in the area. The judge denied her request.

Last month, Formella faced an additional 52 charges related to aggravated criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault. The allegations claim that she abused the teenage student at least 50 times, predominantly at the school where she taught and coached soccer.

Married just last year, the couple's relationship has been tested by the allegations. Prosecutors allege that Formella expressed intentions to leave her husband for the boy, claiming she would take him for millions.

Michael Formella, whose family owns a Chicago-based Italian food company, has publicly stated he was blindsided by the accusations and unaware of his wife's alleged infidelity. Investigators suggest that the inappropriate relationship unfolded while he was oblivious, with Christina reportedly texting the boy during a vacation in Italy.

Prosecutors assert that Formella began grooming the boy when he was just 14 years old. Initially a member of her soccer team, their relationship evolved when she offered him private tutoring sessions after an injury sidelined him from playing.

The alleged sexual encounters reportedly began in her classroom when she was 28 and he was 15. The situation came to light when the boy’s mother discovered explicit text messages on his phone, including one where Formella professed her love and enjoyment of their sexual relationship.

Initially thought to involve only one incident after a prolonged romance, further evidence revealed numerous sexual encounters between them, including several at her home during school hours.

Following her arrest, Formella claimed she was being targeted and blackmailed by the boy due to her appearance and kindness. However, prosecutors presented text messages and a diary found on her phone that painted a different picture—one of obsession and control.

In her diary, Formella allegedly wrote about their tumultuous relationship, expressing frustration over their breakups and asserting that they would remain intertwined in each other's lives. She contended that these writings were merely therapeutic reflections and insisted any sexual references pertained to her husband.