In brief: Grant promotes car-seat initiative

Spokane County law enforcement agencies are increasing enforcement of proper use of child car seats.

The Spokane County Target Zero Task Force received a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, a continuation of an April grant, according to a Spokane Police Department news release.

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 14 and younger, the news release said.

Under Washington law, all children younger than 13 should ride in the back seat. Infants should use a rear-facing car seat until at least age 1 or at least 20 pounds. Children 13 months to 4 years old should use a car seat with a five-point harness. Children under 4-foot-9 should use a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt.

For information about the correct installation of a car seat, call the Spokane Child Passenger Safety Team at (509) 232-2985. The next car seat check is at Dishman Dodge from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 24.

Federal grand jury indicts child rapist

A 70-year-old Stevens County man who recently pleaded guilty to child rape has been indicted by a federal grand jury for producing, transporting and possessing child pornography.

James Ernest Guinn Jr. is in jail awaiting sentencing in Stevens County Superior Court and arraignment in U.S. District Court, where he was indicted last week.

Investigators found child pornography dating to the 1960s and on several kinds of media, ranging from digital images in computer files to video footage and 8-millimeter movie film, according to the Stevens County Prosecutor’s Office.

Guinn faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted. He is to be arraigned in Spokane on Oct. 6. He already faces 93 to 123 months in state prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to first-degree rape of a child in Stevens County.