Palatine High Teacher's Aide Shared Child Pornography On App: Prosecutors

PALATINE, IL — A teacher's aide at Palatine High School has been indicted on charges of reproducing and possessing child sexual abuse images. Bradley Robertson, 41, reportedly used Kik, an instant messaging mobile application, to upload or share multiple 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, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

Robertson was indicted on eight counts of felony reproduction of child pornography with a victim under 13, and felony possession of child pornography. He was ordered last month to remain in the Cook County Jail until his next court date on Aug. 28.

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke announced the indictment Friday, following Robertson's arraignment on July 28.

Following a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children earlier this year about child sexual abuse material used by a Kik account, an investigation was conducted by the CCSAO's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit.

Investigators executed multiple search warrants to obtain the IP address, email address, phone number and home address of the suspected account, which was reportedly linked back to Robertson.

On June 17, 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.

According to court records, investigators seized three laptop computers from the home. On the same day, prosecutors said 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.