Teacher accused of having ‘sex with student and allowing him to sleep over at her house’ | World | News

A middle school teacher and local football coach was accused of having sex with a student who frequently went to his home and spent the night there. Jessica Bergmann, a 34-year-old math teacher at Washington Middle School in Illinois, was arrested by U.S. marshals last month after the now 17-year-old was seen making repeated trips to her home, according to court documents.

The DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office said the student “frequently went to Bergmann’s home, occasionally spending the night there, where the two engaged in sexual intercourse.” The alleged victim is believed to be a former student of the teacher and was also a member of the football team he coached.

After the student left the middle school, Bergmann allegedly began texting and calling the student, now a high school student, after which “the relationship between the two turned sexual,” prosecutors allege.

Bergmann was arrested on Friday, November 7, and has since been charged with sexual assault in authority and two counts of aggravated sexual assault in authority.

DuPage State’s Attorney Robert Berlin added: “The profound abuse of trust and authority allegedly displayed by Ms. Bergmann is deeply disturbing and will be met with the full force of the law.

“Our teachers are entrusted with the welfare of our students. They are given the tremendous responsibility to guide and protect our students, not to harm or exploit them.

“A teacher who takes advantage of a student, as alleged in this case, not only breaks the law, but also undermines the trust placed in him by the community, the school, and the victim’s family.”

Bergmann was released on bail on the condition that he not have contact with the victim or anyone under the age of 18, despite the prosecutor’s efforts to keep him in custody until his December 1 trial date.