A Washington woman was recently arrested in Illinois after allegedly giving birth to a child fathered by a teenage boy. The woman, Robyn Polston, had known the boy for a few years because he was friends with her daughter. There is no timeline about when the relationship turned sexual, but police found graphic messages sent between them. It is unknown exactly what tipped off police, but they began investigating the woman after learning about the birth. It’s likely she will serve a long sentence in prison.
The 43-year-old mom was charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault with a victim between the ages of 13 and 17, and two counts of possession of child pornography, People reported. Each charge carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Polston allegedly abused the 14-year-old friend of her daughter.
In the affidavit, Tazewell County Assistant State’s Attorney Cassandra Wilkins wrote that her office learned about an investigation being conducted by the Washington Police Department. The police received a report about Polston after she gave birth in January 2025.
Investigators were able to obtain a copy of the child’s birth certificate. According to the affidavit, she gave the infant the same middle and last name as the victim, People reported. Polston claimed, however, that the baby’s father “was a man in his twenties named Brian,” and that she hadn’t seen him since the baby was born.
As investigators began looking into the teenage victim, they learned that he had gone to a middle school dance with Polston’s daughter in May 2023. Robyn Polston had been a chaperone at the dance.
The boy moved away shortly after the dance but returned in April 2024. His return was roughly 40 weeks before Polston gave birth. He returned again in June 2024 before moving back for good in August 2024 to live with the family of a “friend,” according to the affidavit. A DNA test confirmed that the boy is the father of the child.
According to a report from 25 News Now, investigators searched their cellphones, finding a large number of sexually explicit pictures and videos of the two. Prosecutors said they used burner phones under fake names to protect their identities. Polston allegedly tried to get the boy to participate in a cover-up.
Prosecutors also claim Polston can’t be trusted to cut off contact with the boy. They asserted that her mother and sister helped to enable the relationship, so they can’t be trusted to keep them apart either.
Associate Judge Derek Asbury agreed with prosecutors that Polston wouldn’t follow orders to stay away from the boy. As a result, she has been ordered to stay in jail while the case is pending. She is next expected in court on December 4.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
