Teacher Accused of Molesting Student Appears in Court with Husband, Pleads Not Guilty

DuPage County, IL — Christina Formella, a 30-year-old teacher accused of molesting her 15-year-old student, appeared in court Monday morning alongside her husband, pleading not guilty to the disturbing charges.

Formella arrived at the DuPage County Courthouse looking composed and made-up, but said nothing to the press as she entered the building. Flanked by her attorney and her husband Michael — a former college baseball player and her partner since their days at Concordia University Chicago — Formella remained silent in the face of mounting scrutiny. According to court documents, Michael was allegedly unaware of the affair until the allegations surfaced.

During the brief hearing, prosecutors laid out the charges against Formella, which stem from a month-long affair with the teenager that allegedly culminated in a sexual encounter inside a classroom. If convicted, Formella will be required to register as a sex offender.

Michael Formella sat stone-faced as prosecutors reviewed the case. The couple married last summer, approximately six months after the alleged abuse. Photos from their wedding show the couple beaming with joy — a stark contrast to Monday’s somber scene.

Family members were also present in the courtroom, including Formella’s sister and her father-in-law, Randy Formella, president of E. Formella and Sons, a suburban Chicago-based Italian food company. When approached for comment by The Post, Randy refused to explain his support for his daughter-in-law.

Court documents paint a complex and troubling picture. Investigators say Formella initially tried to portray the student as a stalker and claimed her husband was aware of the relationship. However, police interviews reveal that Michael told investigators he only knew the teen as a soccer player.

Prosecutors also discovered diary entries on Formella’s phone that suggest she blamed the teen for the breakdown of her marriage. In one entry, she allegedly wrote:“I went back and screen shotted every, single, time that I said we should break up... YOU ruined us.”

In another alleged message, she appeared to hold on to hope of reconnecting with the teen, writing, “We WILL be in each other’s lives forever.”

Formella has denied all charges, telling police she’s being targeted because she’s “good looking.”

The next court hearing is scheduled for Friday and will address a motion regarding media coverage of the case. Formella and her husband exited the courthouse through a back door following the proceedings.

The case continues to unfold as the community and former students grapple with the shocking allegations.