Aurora, Ill. — A middle school teacher in Aurora, Illinois, Jessica Bergmann, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse after prosecutors alleged, she engaged in a sexual relationship with a former student who was underage at the time.
Jessica Bergmann, 34, a math teacher and soccer coach at Washington Middle School, was arrested last Friday following an investigation prompted by a tip from neighbors. According to court documents, the now-17-year-old male student was frequently seen entering and staying overnight at Bergmann’s residence.
Prosecutors from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office allege that the teacher and student began communicating during his sophomore year of high school, and that the relationship later became sexual. The two had first met when the student attended Washington Middle School and played on Bergmann’s soccer team.
“The profound abuse of trust and authority allegedly displayed by Ms. Bergmann is extremely disturbing and will be met with the full force of the law,” said DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin. “Teachers are entrusted with our students’ wellbeing. They are given the awesome responsibility to guide and protect our students, not to harm or exploit them.”
Wheaton Police Chief P.J. Youker, whose department assisted in the investigation, echoed the sentiment. “The allegations in this case are deeply troubling. We will continue to work closely with prosecutors to ensure justice is served,” he said.
Bergmann faces one count of criminal sexual assault in a position of authority and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Prosecutors requested that she be held in custody, but a judge released her under the condition that she have no contact with the alleged victim or any individual under the age of 18.
She is scheduled to appear in court on December 1.
Parents in the Aurora school district expressed shock and concern over the allegations.
“As a mother, I’m horrified,” said Lisa Ramirez, whose daughter attends Washington Middle School. “We trust teachers to protect our kids, not prey on them. It’s heartbreaking to think this could happen in a place that’s supposed to be safe.”
Several parents have called for a review of school policies and closer oversight of student-teacher interactions, particularly in extracurricular settings.
“I hope the district takes this as a wake-up call,” said Marcus Hill, a father of two students in the district. “We need to know our children are safe—not just in the classroom, but on the field, in after-school programs, everywhere.”
Bergmann’s case is part of a troubling national trend. Across the United States, dozens of female teachers — many of them married — have been charged with sexually abusing underage male students in recent years, raising urgent questions about oversight, accountability, and the abuse of authority in educational settings.
The most egregious case remains that of Mary Kay Letourneau, a married teacher from Washington state who was convicted in 1997 of raping her 12-year-old student, Vili Fualaau. The relationship continued even after her initial prison sentence, and the two eventually married and had children together. Letourneau’s case shocked the nation and exposed deep flaws in how institutions respond to female-perpetrated abuse.
- In Alabama, cheer coach Makaela Caldwell Hodgins was indicted for allegedly having sex with a student while teaching at Randolph County High School.
- In Illinois, Christina Formella, 30, was charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse after explicit texts revealed a relationship with a 15-year-old student during tutoring sessions.
“These cases show that abuse of power knows no gender,” said Dr. Elaine Porter, a child protection advocate. “We must stop romanticizing female offenders and start treating these crimes with the seriousness they deserve.”
The school district has not issued a formal statement but confirmed that Bergmann has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
