Married ex-teacher hit with 52 additional child sex charges related to multiple alleged trysts with 15-year-old male student



A former Illinois special education teacher accused of molesting a 15-year-old student has been hit with 52 additional charges relating to previous accusations of child sex crimes.

DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin announced Tuesday in a statement that 30-year-old Christina Formella had been indicted on 52 additional counts of child sex crimes against a student.

'I feel like I’m gonna throw up.'

Formella is facing 20 counts of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 Felony), 20 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (Class 1 Felony), six counts of indecent solicitation of a child (Class 3 Felony), and six counts of grooming (Class 4 Felony), Berlin said.

As Blaze News previously reported, Formella was arrested March 16 when she was a teacher at Downers Grove South High School. At the time, Formella was charged with one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (Class 1 Felony), one count of criminal sexual assault (Class 1 Felony), and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse (Class 2 Felony).

Police bodycam video of Formella’s arrest shows her appearing confused when an officer asks her to step out of her vehicle during a traffic stop. With her husband in the passenger seat of the vehicle, Formella exits the car and is placed in handcuffs.

Bodycam footage shows Formella crying in the back of the police cruiser.

"I feel like I’m gonna throw up," a sobbing Formella is heard saying.

RELATED: Special education teacher fights molestation charges, claims student set her up for blackmail because she's 'good-looking'

The DuPage County State's Attorney's Office stated in a previous news release, "On March 15, 2025, the victim, who was 15 years old at the time of the alleged assault, and his mother went to the Downers Grove Police Department to report inappropriate sexual contact allegedly committed by the boy’s soccer coach/tutor, later identified as Formella."

It was alleged that the student and Formella were in a classroom for a tutoring session before school began in December 2023 when the teacher sexually assaulted the boy, officials said.

But in its press release Tuesday, the State's Attorney's Office said, "Following further investigation, it is alleged that the sexual abuse began in January 2023 and continued through August/September 2024."

"The new allegations against Ms. Formella, including the allegations of grooming and that the abuse lasted nearly two years, are beyond disturbing,” Berlin proclaimed. "I thank the victim in this case for having the courage to come forward during what I imagine is an extremely difficult time for him."

Authorities noted that Formella "sent the victim multiple text messages that were grooming in nature and that she and the victim had engaged in sexual acts approximately 50 times, both at the school and at Formella’s home, including at least 45 times at the school."

WGN-TV reported that the following text exchange was allegedly between the student and Formella:

Student: “I love you so so much mama.”
Formella: “I love you sooooo much baby… Even though this morning was short, it was perfect”
Student: “I know baby it was perfect baby so perfect.”
Formella: “I love having sex with you.”
Student: “I know baby I love it so much… It feels so good… It’s so passionate. .. It’s so intimate … It’s so perfect.”

The alleged victim's mother reportedly discovered text messages between the boy and Formella on her son's cell phone.

RELATED: Shocking texts, secret 'memoir' reportedly reveal special-ed teacher's affair with student

In addition, Formella allegedly had a secret "memoir" in her phone's notes app, in which one note said the student “cheated on me" and called him “disgusting,” according to a petition to deny her pretrial release that People magazine obtained.

“We will never ever be together again,” Formella allegedly wrote. “I'm not a second choice. I'm the best thing you'll ever have, even with all of my mistakes.”

Formella asserted that she was the victim of a blackmail scheme the student orchestrated.

"[Formella said] everybody comes after her because she is good-looking, and she is just a good person who cared too much about [the boy]," according to court documents the Daily Mail obtained.

Blaze News previously reported that Formella allegedly told investigators that the student broke into her phone and sent text messages to himself to set her up for blackmail.

"She claimed that one day, [the boy] had grabbed her phone unattended, had entered her passcode ... had sent the message to his phone, had then deleted the message from her phone, and had saved it to his phone as blackmail," the documents obtained by the Daily Mail read.

Formella is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 4, the state's attorney said.

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Florida middle school teacher sent nude photo, engaged in 'lewd conduct' with 14-year-old student: Police



A Florida teacher is accused of sending an explicit photo to a middle school student as well as engaging in lewd conduct with the boy, according to police.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office claimed that Oliver Fell — a 28-year-old teacher at Carlos E. Haile Middle School in Bradenton — had an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old student.

'Officers reportedly discovered that Fell had contacted the student several times on social media.'

According to a press release from the Manatee County Sheriff's Office obtained by Blaze News, a 14-year-old male student on March 3 informed a school resource deputy from the sheriff's office that one of his teachers had been communicating with him since December 2024. The male student claimed that the teacher sent him an explicit photo on the Snapchat app on Jan. 2.

Detectives with the Manatee County Sheriff's Crimes Against Children Unit launched an investigation into the child sex abuse allegations.

According to the sheriff's office, "The investigation confirmed that the explicit photo of a nude breast belonged to the teacher, Oliver Fell."

Capt. Mark Morie with the Child Protection Division of the sheriff’s office said officials "were able to match" the "evidence against her in that photo" with "the background in her house," according to WWSB-TV.

RELATED: Teacher accused of sex with special-needs student; allegedly gave boy fentanyl, told him to 'shoot' faculty member

zoka74 via iStock / Getty Images Plus

Officers obtained a search warrant to access data from Fell's cell phone and social media accounts, which enabled detectives to discover "evidence indicating that the communications led to lewd conduct involving the victim."

Officers reportedly discovered that Fell had contacted the student several times on social media.

Sheriff's office detectives uncovered additional evidence from Snapchat that allegedly strengthened the child sex abuse case against Fell, after which an arrest warrant was issued, and Fell turned herself in to authorities on June 2.

The middle school teacher was charged with lewd contact with a student by an authority figure — a second-degree felony — and transmission of harmful material to a minor — a third-degree felony.

Fell was booked at the Manatee County Jail and ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim, as well as all minors.

The case is still under investigation.

RELATED: Ex-teacher accused of sexually abusing up to 10 students, exposing children to stripper pole, sex toys, and drugs

Michael Barber, communications director for Manatee County schools, told WWSB that Fell was immediately reassigned to a position off campus where she would have no contact with students.

WWSB reported that the school’s principal, Irene Nikitopoulos, told parents in a letter that it took police "several weeks of investigation to confirm the allegations of the illegal communications."

Nikitopoulos added that the school district will "continue to fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation."

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at 941-747-3011.

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Florida teacher accused of 'disturbing' sexual misconduct against student — including in classroom just hours before arrest



A Florida teacher is accused of engaging in an illicit sexual relationship with a student that authorities said amounts to a betrayal.

On Friday, 27-year-old Brooke Anderson was arrested after allegations of a sexual relationship with a student surfaced.

'This teacher betrayed the trust of a student, a school, and an entire community.'

Anderson has been charged with three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Citing booking records, People magazine reported that the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office booked Anderson into jail on Friday and that she was released the following day after a judge set her bail at $45,000 — $15,000 for each of the three counts.

Anderson is a science teacher at Riverview High School.

RELATED: Teacher accused of sex with special-needs student; allegedly gave boy fentanyl, told him to 'shoot' faculty member

halbergman via iStock / Getty Images

The student allegedly disclosed that the relationship with the teacher began in September 2024.

Police said the relationship started with sexually explicit text messages. However, the relationship reportedly escalated to physical encounters in the weeks leading up to the arrest.

The student claimed to have had multiple instances of sexual encounters with Anderson, according to police.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said in a statement, "The most recent incident occurred the morning of May 16, inside Anderson’s classroom before the start of the school day."

A few hours after the alleged sexual assault, police arrested Anderson.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated, "This teacher betrayed the trust of a student, a school, and an entire community."

"What should have been a safe, supportive environment for learning was exploited for abuse," Chronister added. "Her actions are criminal, calculated, and deeply disturbing."

This investigation is ongoing, according to police.

Detectives monitored a phone call between the student and teacher on Friday, according to the affidavit obtained by the Tampa Bay Times. During the phone call, Anderson acknowledged the three instances of sexual encounters, the affidavit said.

RELATED: Former teacher of the year sentenced to 30 years in prison for grooming, sexually assaulting 2 elementary school students

Bill Oxford via iStock / Getty Images

Anderson has worked at Riverview High School since she joined the Hillsborough County Public Schools district in November 2021.

A district spokesperson said Anderson passed all required screenings and background checks before being hired.

Anderson is no longer listed as a district staff member, according to an archived version of the district's website.

Anderson has been suspended but faces termination pending an investigation's findings.

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200.

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Former teacher of the year sentenced to 30 years in prison for grooming, sexually assaulting 2 elementary school students



A former teacher of the year from California has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for grooming and sexually assaulting two elementary school students.

Jacqueline Ma, 36, had been a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Lincoln Acres Elementary School in National City.

'I just pray for an extra hand of protection and strength to all of those I’ve hurt. I’m so sorry.'

Ma was named teacher of the year for the 2022-2023 academic year by the San Diego County Office of Education.

On Feb. 5, Ma pleaded guilty to two counts of forcible lewd act on a child, one count of lewd act on a child, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, including allegations of substantial sexual conduct and having multiple victims.

In March 2023, Jacqueline Ma was arrested and hit with three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and three felony counts of oral copulation.

RELATED: Ex-teacher accused of sexually abusing up to 10 students, exposing children to stripper pole, sex toys, and drugs

MarsBars via iStock / Getty Images

In March 2023, the mother of one of the victims found inappropriate messages on a family tablet between the student and teacher.

The boy’s parents did not allow him to have social media or his own electronics, the DA stated. However, Ma was allegedly able to communicate with him through an unsanctioned after-school program and through a school chat application.

The district attorney’s office said Ma had groomed the minor for over a year before performing sexual acts on him when he was 12.

Ma committed the sexual acts in her classroom while the parents believed their son was playing in an after-school basketball program, and the sexual abuse continued for three months.

Further investigation found that Ma had groomed and sexually assaulted another student in 2020, who was 11 at the time.

Ma had been grooming the young boys with gifts, food, special attention, and doing their homework for them.

RELATED: Ex-teacher accused of sex with student — months after her dad was accused of sexually abusing teens on same Christian campus

Synthetic-Exposition via iStock / Getty Images Plus

As previously reported by Blaze News, Deputy District Attorney Drew Hart said Ma had a photograph of the boy in her wallet, she had jewelry with his initials, and love letters to the boy were found in her classroom.

Hart described Ma’s behavior toward the first victim as "obsessive, possessive, controlling, and dangerous."

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement, "This defendant violated the trust she had with her students in the most extreme and traumatic way possible, and her actions are despicable."

"Her victims will have to deal with a lifetime of negative effects, and her 30-year sentence is appropriate," Stephan stated. "No child deserves what this defendant did, and I hope this sentence brings a measure of justice to the victims, their families, and the community that was left reeling from this defendant’s crimes.”

Ma must serve the full 30 years before she is eligible for parole, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

At her sentencing on Friday, Ma said she was “deeply ashamed of my actions” and apologized for ripping the “childhood" of the sexual abuse victims.

“Instead of following the path of what a teacher should be, I let my selfishness override the boys’ best interests,” Ma told the court through tears, according to KNSD-TV.

“I just pray for an extra hand of protection and strength to all of those I’ve hurt. I’m so sorry,” Ma said during the sentencing, according to KGTV-TV.

RELATED: 'Obsessed' ex-special education teacher indicted on child sex crimes, allegedly exchanged 25,000 messages with student

Luzo Reis via iStock / Getty Images Plus

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High school dance teacher faces felony charge for alleged student sex scandal



A South Carolina teacher is facing a criminal charge for having an alleged sexual relationship with a student, according to police.

Victoria Katherine Montgomery — a 32-year-old woman from Bluffton — was arrested Friday and charged with a felony count of sexual battery with a student who is 18 years of age or older, where there is direct supervisory authority; no aggravated force, according to Beaufort County jail records.

'We are taking this very seriously.'

Despite the student being 18 or older, Montgomery reportedly was charged with a felony because she had “direct supervisory authority” over the alleged victim.

Montgomery reportedly was released from the Beaufort County Detention Center on Saturday morning on a personal recognizance bond.

Montgomery is a dance teacher at Hilton Head Island High School. She is the head of the school's arts department, according to the school's website.

A since-deleted Facebook post from the high school stated that Montgomery began teaching there at the start of the 2021-2022 academic year after relocating from Flint, Michigan.

The Island Packet reported that an individual last Wednesday tipped off principal Steve Schidrich about an alleged teacher sex scandal.

School officials immediately notified the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and placed Montgomery on paid administrative leave after the sexual abuse allegations surfaced.

WCBD-TV obtained the following statement from the Beaufort County School District: "We have become aware of a situation involving a staff member and student at HHIHS. Because this involves both a personnel matter and a law enforcement investigation, we are unable to provide additional details or comment further."

The statement continued, "We recognize that situations like this can raise concern, and we are taking this very seriously. The situation is being addressed accordingly in cooperation with law enforcement."

Lt. Danny Allen of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that there is an active investigation into the accusations of an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student at the high school.

However, police did not offer any further details about the alleged sexual abuse.

The Daily Mail reported that investigators believe the alleged victim is a student of Montgomery.

District spokesperson Candace Bruder noted that all of Montgomery's classes will be taught by a "certified educator or a substitute teacher, and families of students enrolled in these courses will be notified via email."

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, Montgomery could face disciplinary action or even termination. The South Carolina Department of Education also may revoke her teaching license.

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Ex-teacher nervously laughs off claims of sexually abusing student in parking lots during secretly recorded phone call: Cops



A former teacher in Wisconsin is facing serious accusations of having an illicit sexual relationship with an underage student that allegedly happened several years ago, according to court documents.

Rebecca Ryan, 43, was arrested on April 29 and charged with three counts of sexual assault by school staff, according to the Post-Crescent. Each charge reportedly carries a maximum prison sentence of three years and three years of extended supervision.

Sgt. Schnese of the Appleton Police Department questioned Ryan and noted that 'she was breathing with shallow breaths' during the interrogation.

Ryan is barred from having contact with the alleged victim or having any unsupervised contact with any children under the age of 18 that is not related to her.

Ryan is currently being detained at the Outagamie County Jail on $50,000 bond, according to jail records.

According to the criminal complaint obtained by WLUK-TV, the former student — who is now 25 years old — informed police in March that he was an alleged victim of child sex abuse by a former teacher when he was a 17-year-old student at Appleton West High School.

The alleged victim said the sexual encounters occurred during the first semester of his senior year, between September 2017 and January 2018.

The alleged victim claimed that it was Ryan who sexually abused him.

The former student told detectives that the first time he had a sexual encounter with the teacher was in a vehicle in the overflow parking lot of Appleton West High School, according to the criminal complaint. The alleged victim also claimed that he and the teacher had sex on two other occasions inside a vehicle at two different parking lots, and the last sexual encounter happened before he turned 18 years old.

Officers with the Appleton Police Department reportedly had the alleged victim call Ryan while police recorded the phone call.

When the former student asked Ryan if she was still teaching, she allegedly replied that she is no longer a teacher and is now a nanny.

The alleged victim reportedly asked Ryan if she would be willing to talk about their time together in high school.

She reportedly responded, "I mean, I guess. It depends on what. I don't know. Ugh. I can talk to you about general."

According to the affidavit, the alleged victim elaborated, "Like us having sex and stuff."

Ryan reportedly replied with a nervous laugh and said, "No."

She allegedly told the former student to "hold on a second," and he remained on the line for about three minutes without any response from Ryan, so he hung up on the call.

The alleged victim purportedly called Ryan back, but the call was sent to her voicemail.

Sgt. Schnese of the Appleton Police Department questioned Ryan and noted that "she was breathing with shallow breaths" during the interrogation.

He wrote in the affidavit, "Shortly thereafter, Rebecca placed her head in her hands and said, 'I did not sleep with [VICTIM 1].'"

The Appleton School District noted that Ryan had been employed by the district from August 29, 2016, through Feb. 9, 2018.

The school district added, "During her time with the district, there were no reports or allegations involving inappropriate contact with students. We are committed to partnering with the Appleton Police Department as needed to support any ongoing investigations."

Ryan is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 6.

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Teacher busted for alleged sexual assault of student after her medical marijuana was found in boy's bedroom; faces 63 charges



A Pennsylvania school teacher is facing 63 felony charges related to accusations that she sexually abused and supplied drugs to a student, according to authorities.

Michelle Mercogliano — a 35-year-old from Phoenixville, which is about an hour northwest of Philadelphia — reportedly has been charged institutional sexual assault, corruption of a minor, delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful contact with a minor, possession with intent to distribute, and other related offenses.

'The calculated actions by this defendant are shocking and disturbing.'

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office noted that Mercogliano has yet to be arrested but is "cooperative and arranging an appropriate time to turn herself in via her attorney."

Mercogliano is a special education teacher at Conestoga High School in Berwyn.

Family members of the alleged victim reportedly tipped off police about the child sex abuse accusations.

Blaze News obtained the affidavit of probable cause, which indicates the father of the alleged victim discovered marijuana packaging in the teen's bedroom closet.

"The packaging received was for medical marijuana and had the name of Michelle Mercogliano on the label," the affidavit states.

The DA's office issued a statement saying Mercogliano had a "sexual relationship with a student attending Conestoga High School, where she was employed as a teacher."

The DA claimed Mercogliano began a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old in February 2025.

The alleged victim told a detective he had sexual intercourse with the teacher approximately 12 times and that Mercogliano "had also performed oral sex on him on a similar number of occasions."

Investigators determined that most of the sexual interactions occurred at the home of Mercogliano's parents.

The affidavit of probable cause claimed Mercogliano drove the victim to a cannabis dispensary and purchased medical marijuana for him.

"After traveling to the marijuana dispensary, Mercogliano and the [alleged victim] would smoke the marijuana together and have sex, usually in a bedroom at her parents' residence," according to the affidavit.

The document added that Mercogliano "provided him with medical marijuana once a week since December of 2024, аpprоximately 15 times in total."

Mercogliano used Snapchat and text messaging to communicate with the minor, according to the criminal complaint.

After law enforcement learned of the child sex abuse allegations, they "quickly launched a thorough investigation."

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School District "immediately" placed Mercogliano on leave and barred her from all schools in the district after police notified the district of the sexual abuse allegations.

Superintendent Richard Gusick penned a letter to parents and faculty regarding the teacher's "alleged unlawful conduct," which said there's "no information at this time" that other students were abused.

District Attorney Christopher L. de Barrena-Sarobe stated, "Parents and students should be able to trust their teachers. The defendant broke the law and destroyed that trust. It will not be tolerated."

Tredyffrin Township Police chief Michael Beaty added, "The calculated actions by this defendant are shocking and disturbing. We are here to support the victim and his family as we collectively work to rebuild the trust damaged by her criminal endeavors.”

Police noted that this is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information on the case is urged to contact the Tredyffrin Township Police Department at 610-644-3221.

WPVI-TV reported that Mercogliano began teaching at the high school last fall. Previously, she taught at Hillside Elementary School from 2019 to 2024 and was a paraprofessional at Hillside Elementary and Valley Forge Elementary Schools between 2014 and 2018.

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Middle school teacher faces rape, sodomy charges over accusations of years-long sexual abuse of 12-year-old boy



An Alabama middle school teacher has been hit with rape and sodomy charges in relation to accusations of years-long sexual abuse of a 12-year-old boy that first began eight years ago, according to authorities.

On Thursday, 47-year-old Jill Brisendine Campbell was arrested by officers with the Opelika Police Department. She was charged with second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy. Campbell has since been released on a $35,000 bond.

'Protecting our students is a priority and responsibility we all share.'

Campbell is a teacher at Opelika Middle School.

Campbell – who has reportedly taught at the middle school for more than 20 years – was placed on administrative leave after the eye-opening child sexual assault allegations surfaced.

Citing the Opelika Police Department, the New York Post reported that the alleged sexual abuse started in 2015, when the student was just 12 years old. However, the investigation did not begin until April 15, 2025, when police received a tip from a former student, according to AL.com.

“The victim reported that the acts occurred when they were in 7th and 8th grade and attending Opelika Middle School. An investigation revealed evidence that corroborated the victim’s statement,” the Opelika Police Department stated.

According to court documents obtained by WRBL-TV, Campbell is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse and oral sex with the student up until 2017.

Investigators claimed the alleged victim contacted Campbell via text messages, in which she reportedly confirmed the illicit relationship occurred while the student attended Opelika Middle School.

Citing court documents, People magazine reported that the complaint described the situation as an "inappropriate sexual relationship."

Opelika City Schools is fully cooperating with the investigation by the Opelika Police Department.

“Protecting our students is a priority and responsibility we all share. If you have any information about this case or any other crime, we urge you to come forward,” Opelika Police Chief Shane Healey said.

Anyone with additional information on the child abuse case is urged to contact detectives at the Opelika Police Department at 334-705-5220.

Opelika City Schools declined to provide People magazine with further remarks on the investigation.

Campbell is scheduled to return to court on May 7.

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How teacher's alleged grooming of student led to marriage-ending affair, chilling suicide pact, possible 105-year prison term



A former Florida teacher faces up to 105 years in prison for his alleged grooming and sexual abuse of a teen girl, which resulted in her suicide attempt.

Damian Conti is a 36-year-old former Advanced Placement English teacher at the SouthTech Academy, a charter school for students in grades 9 through 12 in Boynton Beach.

'She's alive by miracle.'

According to investigators, Conti began messaging a 16-year-old female student through text, Instagram, and school email in August 2023.

Conti allegedly offered to be the girl's academic mentor.

The teacher reportedly would meet the student on a daily basis near her locker after school ended.

Attorneys for the alleged victim's family said Conti met the teen at Starbucks and visited the teenager at her job — and even brought his 4-year-old son with him. He also allegedly gave the teen gifts.

Conti purportedly persuaded the girl to join the volleyball team, which he coached.

He allegedly made excuses to remove her from volleyball practice and take her into his classroom alone, according to investigators.

The Palm Beach Post reported, "The student said he confided in her about his work and home life and encouraged her to vent her own frustrations. As their trust deepened, he began sharing intimate secrets about his marriage and sex life."

The girl allegedly told investigators that Conti told her he "liked her" in October 2023.

Shortly after, Conti began to sexually abuse the minor, according to the teen. The alleged sexual assaults occurred in a shopping plaza parking lot, his classroom, and in storage closets at SouthTech Academy.

The former teacher allegedly gave the girl driving lessons.

In January 2024, an administrator at the SouthTech Academy reportedly emailed Conti a warning about driving the underage student around in his car after a video of the girl entering Conti's car began to circulate on TikTok.

"I want to remind you that you should not be transporting students in your car," assistant principal Erin Kurtz wrote to Conti. "If you are transporting them for a field trip, the appropriate paperwork should be on file, and there should always be a minimum of three people."

Citing court records, the Post reported that Conti told the alleged victim that Kurtz had questioned him about inappropriate conduct with a different teenage girl a year prior. Conti allegedly bragged about how quickly he had convinced the assistant principal that the allegations were unfounded. However, he reportedly continued to sexually assault the first alleged victim.

Conti and the second alleged victim reportedly told investigators that their last sexual encounter happened on Feb. 5, 2024 — the same day as his wedding anniversary, according to divorce documents Conti's wife filed three weeks later.

'Scared of death.'

The next day, a classmate — who had access to her social media accounts — wanted to "mess with her" by logging into her Instagram and messaging her from there. The classmate allegedly told detectives that he also logged into her Instagram to see if she was "talking smack" about him.

“Lo and behold, she was talking smack about me,” he told police.

The male classmate also said he noticed "curious" messages in the girl's private messages between her and an account seemingly belonging to Conti. The classmate took screenshots of the conversations between the teacher and student and then reportedly shared them with school administrators.

Eileen Turenne — the now-former principal of SouthTech Academy — suspended Conti after seeing the messages. The principal summoned the teen girl, who allegedly told deputies that Conti instructed her to delete the messages between the pair, which she did.

The student refused to answer any of the principal's questions and demanded an attorney, according to court records.

The teen claimed that Turenne asked her to vacate the campus, despite not having approval from the girl's parents, which school policy requires.

A school receptionist allegedly asked Turenne to confirm that the student should be released from the campus, despite not having parental approval.

"Yes," Turenne reportedly replied. "Get her out of here."

According to court documents, when the receptionist asked a second time about releasing the student, Turenne responded, "I will deal with it later. Just tell (Jane Doe) to sign on behalf of her parent."

The girl's attorney, Victoria Mesa-Estrada, said, "The school waited for the water to spill before they took any action to protect her. And when they pushed her out, they basically turned her into the hands of the predator."

Turenne reportedly retired from SouthTech Academy three days later.

'This case is much more than just the sexual abuse of a minor by a teacher.'

The teen left SouthTech Academy on Feb. 6 and reportedly met Conti at a Home Depot near Lake Worth Beach, according to surveillance cameras at the hardware store.

According to court documents, the teen selected 30 feet of rope and 15 feet of chain. The teen allegedly told an employee that she was building a tree house.

However, the rope reportedly was to be used for the teen and Conti to commit suicide.

A civil lawsuit the girl's parents filed against SouthTech Academy and Conti claimed he initially agreed to the suicide pact but later changed his mind.

The teen told investigators Conti touched the rope and then said he was “scared of death.” He then allegedly told the teen not to commit suicide.

The pair then walked out of the Home Depot store together and “went their separate ways,” according to court records.

Shortly after, Conti claimed to have called his therapist for advice on what to do. The therapist allegedly told him to immediately call 911, which he did. Conti allegedly told police of the girl's suicide plans but reportedly did not inform police that he was with her at the hardware store when she purchased the rope.

Upon receiving news of the suicidal teen, police launched an immediate search for the girl. With the assistance of the girl's parents, who tracked her location through their phone, deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office reportedly found the teen hanging from a tree behind a church less than an hour after the 911 call.

Officers cut the rope and resuscitated the girl before rushing her to the pediatric intensive care unit of St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach. The teen seemed to be in such grave condition that her mother nearly fainted when she saw her daughter, a deputy said.

The alleged victim reportedly has made a slow recovery from her injuries.

The same day — Feb. 6 — Conti was arrested. Police said Conti admitted to having a sexual relationship with the girl.

Conti allegedly told the arresting deputy there were "feelings that shouldn’t have been there," and “I should have stopped it.”

Conti was fired from SouthTech Academy the following day.

'He's facing a whole lot of hurt.'

Investigators discovered thousands of messages between the teacher and student, which lawyers claim contain "highly inappropriate and/or explicit sexual content."

WPEC-TV reported that Conti initially was charged with six counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

During a hearing last October, prosecutors allegedly offered Conti a plea deal that would give him a 25-year prison sentence. Conti rejected it.

Earlier this month, prosecutors hit Conti with an additional charge of attempting to assist in self-murder.

If convicted, Conti faces up to 105 years in prison.

Assistant State Attorney Alexa Ruggiero reportedly told Assistant Public Defender Lily Boehmer in an email, "This case is much more than just the sexual abuse of a minor by a teacher. Some of the most upsetting evidence includes the defendant taking this young girl to the store to buy materials to end her life."

Ruggiero noted that there is additional evidence "to corroborate his involvement with her attempted suicide."

Mesa-Estrada stated, "We're not only talking about a sexual predator, but someone who aided and abetted her suicide attempt. She's alive by miracle."

Former Palm Beach County state attorney Dave Aronberg told WPBF-TV, "The one fact in his favor is that he said that he called 911, and that is how they found her, was able to save her life. That's the kind of thing that could help him at trial, but still, he's facing a whole lot of hurt."

Conti's jury trial is scheduled to begin June 23.

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Ex-teacher allegedly 'confessed to inappropriate conduct with high school student' at her home 'on multiple occasions'



A former Texas teacher was arrested for allegedly having "inappropriate conduct with a high school student," according to police.

KTXS-TV reported that 25-year-old Lily Victoria Janek was arrested at her home in Brownwood on Wednesday. She was charged with an improper relationship between an educator and a student. Janek's bond was set at $50,000.

'While we are sickened by the conduct of this former employee, we know that this incident is not a reflection of the many exceptional educators teaching in classrooms across the district.'

Janek had been employed as a teacher and a coach for the Mullin Independent School District.

The Brownwood Police Department said in a Thursday statement that law enforcement was tipped off in November 2024 about a "possible improper relationship between a student and educator."

Detective Peyton Donahoo claimed Janek "invited the student to her home in Brownwood, where it was alleged that sexual activity occurred" on "multiple occasions."

Police said the accusations were "confirmed during subsequent interviews with Janek and others associated with the report."

The school district said in a Wednesday statement that "today, a former Mullin ISD employee was arrested for allegedly engaging in an inappropriate relationship with one of our students."

"The district had been notified on Friday, April 4, 2025, that a Mullin ISD employee had confessed to inappropriate conduct with a high school student," the statement read. "After receiving the letter from law enforcement, we reported the employee’s conduct to Child Protective Services, suspended the employee, banned her from all school property and school-related activities."

On April 7, the board of trustees voted to terminate the employee, the school district said.

The district added that the superintendent filed a report with the Texas Education Agency about the teacher's alleged inappropriate conduct with a Mullin High School student.

The school district noted that it was "fully cooperating" with law enforcement, Child Protective Services, and the Texas Education Agency.

"While we are sickened by the conduct of this former employee, we know that this incident is not a reflection of the many exceptional educators teaching in classrooms across the district," the Mullin Independent School District stated. "We are committed to supporting the students and families impacted and ending the school year strong for all of our children."

The school district offered additional counseling services to anyone affected by the alleged conduct of the former teacher through the school psychologist, as well as through the Texas Child Health Access through Telemedicine.

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