Medical Lake man pleads guilty to child porn and rape charges

A Medical Lake man faces a potential 20-year sentence in federal prison after pleading guilty to child pornography and rape charges stemming from misconduct with middle school students earlier this year.

James G. Poindexter, 25, will be sentenced at both the federal and state level for charges of producing and distributing child pornography, as well as rape of a child. 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.

At a future hearing in Spokane County Superior Court, Poindexter also will plead guilty to having sexual contact with a 15-year-old. According to the terms of the plea agreement, Poindexter will be barred from unsupervised contact with minors for the rest of his life and will have to stay 500 feet from any area where children congregate. He must also register as a sex offender and seek treatment, in addition to the federal prison sentence.

In court filings, Poindexter’s attorney said his client has an extensive history of mental illness and was not taking medication when the criminal activity took place.

Poindexter is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in November by U.S. District Court Judge Justin L. Quackenbush.