Child porn cases result in prison sentences

Two men were sentenced to federal prison on unrelated child pornography charges Tuesday in Spokane.

Gregory Wilder, 21, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison by District Court Judge Edward F. Shea, according to a news release. Wilder, of Kennewick, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography July 23.

In April 2012, the U.S. Secret Service discovered 237 videos and 64 still images of child pornography in his home after finding he used peer-to-peer sharing software to distribute the files, according to the release.

Christopher A. Knox, 50, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison by Shea, according to a news release. Knox, of Clarkston, pleaded guilty July 23 to attempted production of child pornography.

In March 2010, the FBI and Grant County Sheriff’s Office discovered Pamela Ortega was using her children to produce child porn, according to the release. Ortega pleaded guilty to three counts of rape of a minor and was sentenced to 300 months imprisonment. Law enforcement discovered one of the men she was associated with was Knox.

The FBI executed a search warrant at Knox’s residence in March 2011 and discovered a laptop computer that contained images of child porn, according to the release.

The cases were both pursued through Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide U.S. Justice Department initiative.