In brief: Man gets 20 years in porn case

A Medical Lake man was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges of production and distribution of child pornography.

James G. Poindexter, 25, also pleaded guilty to state charges of child rape after having sexual contact with a 15-year-old. Sentencing on those charges will take place Nov. 25.

Local and federal authorities seized about 600 explicit photos from electronic devices belonging to Poindexter, who lived in the historic Hallett House near Medical Lake Middle School when he was arrested in March. An apartment in Spokane Valley also was searched as part of the investigation.

Authorities were alerted to Poindexter by Microsoft, who reported explicit images being uploaded to its public servers in October 2013, according to court documents.

Poindexter told investigators that students at the school would visit him on their lunch breaks, according to court documents. School officials said a parent’s note is required for students to leave campus and they do not believe the contact occurred on school days.

Poindexter will have a life term of court supervision following his release from federal prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Pedestrians hit by motorist on Vista

Two pedestrians were hit by a car in the intersection of Vista Road and Euclid Avenue around 5 p.m. Monday.

A man and a woman were walking east on Euclid when they were struck by a northbound car on Vista, Spokane County sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory said in a news release. The two were wearing dark clothing and by the time the driver saw them enter the road it was too late to avoid a collision, Gregory said.

The driver stopped and was cooperative with investigators, Gregory said. The two pedestrians were injured and taken to a local hospital.

Tip reward offered in fatal shooting

Spokane police are partnering with Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest to offer a cash reward for information about the fatal shooting of Zachary Lamb on South Hill.

Lamb, 26, was shot Nov. 7 outside the 10th & Elm apartments, where he lived. Witnesses described the shooter as a white male in his 40s with a gravelly voice, and said his car was a dark-colored SUV with a roof rack hanging about one foot over the windshield.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward to anyone with information leading to an arrest. Tips can be submitted anonymously to (800) 222-TIPS or at www.crimestoppersinlandnorthwest.org.

Fires damage business, residence

Spokane-area firefighters put out two serious fires Monday night and early Tuesday.

Just after 10 p.m. Monday, the Spokane Fire Department responded to Becker’s Used Cars at 3518 N. Division St. Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said drivers passing the business saw flames inside the building and called 911.

That fire was extinguished quickly after firefighters forced entry into the building, Schaeffer said. Investigators were on scene Tuesday morning to determine a cause.

Spokane Valley firefighters responded to a more extensive residential fire in the 19800 block of East Buckeye Avenue just before 2 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters entered the building and found it unoccupied, and neighbors verified the occupants were in a safe location.

Damage was estimated in excess of $130,000.