PALATINE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER’S AIDE INDICTED ON CHARGES OF REPRODUCING AND POSSESSING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IMAGES

CHICAGO — Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke today announced the indictment of Bradley Robertson, 41, a teacher’s aide at northwest suburban Palatine High School, for allegedly possessing multiple files depicting child sexual abuse images on his cell phone. An investigation conducted by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s (CCSAO) Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) revealed that Robertson allegedly used an account on Kik, an instant messaging mobile application, to upload or share at least three files depicting sexual abuse material depicting children under the age of 13 and discussed sharing child sexual abuse images with other users of the app.  

Robertson was indicted on eight counts of reproduction of child pornography with a victim under 13, a Class X felony, and possession of child pornography, a Class 2 felony. He was ordered detained at his first court appearance on June 19, 2025, and remains in the Cook County Jail. Robertson was arraigned on July 28, 2025. 

According to court documents, CCSAO investigators received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in early 2025 about child sexual abuse material used by a Kik account. Investigators executed multiple search warrants to obtain the IP address, email address, phone number and home address of the suspected account, which was linked back to Robertson. 

On June 17, 2025, the ICAC unit, in coordination with members from the Palatine Police Department and the Illinois State Police SWAT team, executed a residential search warrant at Robertson’s home address. Robertson was not on the premises but allowed law enforcement to enter. Investigators seized three laptop computers from the home, according to court records. The same day, Robertson voluntarily arrived at the Palatine Police Department and was taken into custody. A search warrant executed on the cell phone in Robertson’s possession found at least three files containing child sexual abuse material depicting children under 13.  

CCSAO Investigator Robert Grossman and Assistant State’s Attorney Anne Ringelestein led the investigation of this case. Investigators Cyla Dunican, Joe Czarnowski, Terrance Sheehan, Anna Doyle, and Ron Jasica, Sergeant Scott Sinko, and Commander Ernest Magaña also provided valuable support. 

Robertson’s next court date is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2025. 

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