Police Reports Allowed In Trials For DCFS Workers In AJ Freund Case

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Nineteen police reports that were never reviewed by two Department of Children and Family Service workers handling the AJ Freund case will be allowed to be used as evidence at their trials.

Andrew Polovin, 48, of Island Lake, and Carlos Acosta, 54, of Woodstock, both face child endangerment and reckless conduct charges in connection with their involvement in the AJ Freund case prior to the 5-year-old's death in April 2019. Polovin was Acosta's supervisor in the months prior to AJ's death.

AJ's mother is serving 35 years in prison after she was convicted last year in AJ's 2019 murder. His father, Andrew Freund, is serving 30 years in prison for various charges related to AJ's death.

• DCFS Investigators In AJ Case Charged With Child Endangerment

In a hearing last week, a McHenry County judge ruled the police reports, which show a history of domestic battery, drug abuse, mental illness and other allegations against AJ's parents, will be allowed as evidence. Assistant McHenry County State's Attorney Ashley Romito said neither Acosta nor Polovin requested the reports following an emergency call by police in December 2018, according to the Daily Herald.

Not following the DCFS protocol and looking into past police contact "put (AJ) in dangerous circumstances that led to his torture and murder some months later," Romito said.

• Court Records Show History Of Neglect, Drugs For Freund's Parents
• Police Release Initial Report in AJ Freund Case
• 'Maybe Mommy Didn't Mean to Hurt Me': DCFS Reports Released

Polovin and Acosta, who also serves on the McHenry County Board, were arrested and criminally charged in September 2020.

Both Polovin and Acosta are set to appear for a status hearing Friday, when a trial date could be set.