Jessica Bergmann, Aurora middle school teacher in Illinois charged with having sexual relationship with minor boy she met while coaching soccer.
A middle school teacher and soccer coach in Illinois is alleged to have had sex with an underage student — with neighbors saying they noticed the male victim frequently coming at night to her house according to prosecutors.
Jessica Bergmann, a 34-year-old math teacher at Washington Middle School in Aurora, IL, was arrested after police received a tip from a ‘concerned’ local last month that a now-17-year-old boy was frequently seen visiting her home, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Herald.
Student victim would frequently stay overnight at Aurora teacher’s home
The student ‘would frequently go to Bergmann’s home, occasionally staying overnight, where the two would engage in sexual intercourse,’ according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Bergmann knew the boy from middle school where he also played on her soccer team, according to prosecutors.
The teacher and her student victim began communicating through texts and phone calls in his sophomore year when ‘at some point in time, the relationship between the two turned sexual,’ the prosecutor’s office stated.
The minor has since graduated from Washington Middle School, FOX32 reported.
The female educator was taken into custody on Friday, November 7 and charged with criminal sexual assault in position of authority and two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in position of authority.
Abuse of trust, authority and power
‘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,’ DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said.
‘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,’ he continued.
‘A teacher who takes advantage of a student, as alleged in this case, is not only breaking the law, but they are also breaking the trust placed in them by the community, the school and the victim’s family.’
Despite prosecutors demands to have Bergmann held in custody, a judge released her on the condition she make no contact with the victim or anyone under the age of 18, according to the Daily Herald.
The female teacher is next scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 1.
