In Washington, Illinois, the Washington Police Department announced the arrest of 43-year-old Robyn Polston after a detailed investigation into allegations of a sexual relationship with a minor. She was booked into the Tazewell County Jail and charged with Criminal Sexual Assault and Child Pornography.
The case began when police received a formal complaint that Polston, a local hairstylist and mother of two adolescents, had engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a teenage boy—the 14-year-old ex-boyfriend of her daughter. Detectives say multiple interviews were conducted, search warrants executed, and both biological and digital evidence were collected as part of the inquiry.
According to the investigation, Polston allegedly groomed the teen over time, eventually inviting him to move into her home. It is reported that she misled his grandparents about the situation and told clients and acquaintances the baby she carried was fathered by a boyfriend serving overseas in the military. During that time, the boy apparently participated in maternity photo shoots and prenatal appointments.
Witness statements reveal that the young boy was often seen in Polston’s company and identified by some as the teen in question — a recognition made after someone spotted him in a middle-school yearbook. During a maternity session, Polston reportedly presented the boy to a photographer as being 25 years old, claiming he looked younger than his age and was her boyfriend’s younger brother.
Authorities say they awaited DNA test results from the state crime lab to confirm the paternity of the baby before moving forward with formal charges. The backlog at the lab extended the timeline of the investigation. With key evidence now in hand, police say the case is active and that additional charges could be forthcoming.
Polston was arrested and booked after the investigation concluded, but the police emphasized that the probe is ongoing and no full disclosure has been made of all possible charges or timelines. No official statement from Polston or her attorney has yet been made public, and it remains unclear what her legal representation plan is or when her next court appearance will occur.
This case, which combines allegations of grooming, underage sexual activity, and exploitation of a minor, has raised significant concern in the Washington community. Neighbors and clients say they are stunned by the revelations, given Polston’s visible role in the area as a hairstylist. Meanwhile, juvenile-protection officials are likely to follow closely as the case develops and as the victim’s well-being becomes a focus of the criminal proceedings.
