DuPage County State's Attorney's Office
Middle School Teacher in Illinois Charged With Sexual Assault of Former Student
A former middle school teacher in Illinois has been charged with sexual assault of a former student.
Washington Middle School teacher Jessica Bergmann has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a former middle school student during their sophomore year in high school, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office said in a news release on November 8.
“Bergmann and the victim began communicating via text messages and phone calls… the relationship between the two turned sexual,” according to a news release. Their alleged relationship then “progressed further and that the victim would frequently go to Bergmann’s home, occasionally staying overnight, where the two would engage in sexual intercourse.”
Bergmann, 34, was arrested on November 7. She is facing “one count of Criminal Sexual Assault – Position of Authority (Class 1 Felony), one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse – Position of Authority (Class 1 Felony) and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse (Class 2 Felony),” according to the news release.
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“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 in a statement included in the release.
“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. 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.”
Berlin went on to “thank the Wheaton Police Department for their efforts on this case and for their continued work in protecting our children from harm.”
“I also thank the DuPage County Children’s Advocacy Center as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Kelly McKay and Mike Fisher for their work in securing the appropriate charges against Ms. Bergmann. This case is yet another example of outstanding collaborative and investigative work by Wheaton’s detectives,” Chief of the Wheaton Police Department Princeton Youker added. “I would like to thank our law enforcement partners at the DuPage County Children’s Advocacy Center and State’s Attorney Bob Berlin’s Office for their assistance throughout the investigation.”
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Youker continued, “Cases involving alleged abuse by a teacher strike at the core of community trust. This behavior is unacceptable, and the Wheaton Police Department is dedicated to fully investigating any reports involving this allegation, to fully ensure the safety of our community and our children.”
Bergmann is scheduled to appear in court on December 1 in front of Judge Margaret O’Connell. It appears that she has not yet pleaded.
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