Registered sex offender in Medical Lake arrested for possessing several images of child pornography

A registered sex offender was arrested Tuesday and charged with possession of several images of child pornography on his phones.

James Friedrich, 50, was living in a trailer in Medical Lake, in an area where two other sex offenders also had residences, according to court documents. The property owner told Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies that Friedrich would often watch the neighbor’s children as they swam in their pool, placing his hand down his pants and moving it up and down.

The other sex offenders on the property told deputies that Friedrich would become “excited” when the two young children went outside, and would run to the fence asking “Do you hear them?” The property owner apparently told Friedrich to stop, but he said he “didn’t have to listen to her,” according to court documents.

On Aug. 3, deputies searched Friedrich’s trailer, where they collected multiple phones. During an interview with detectives, Friedrich admitted that if any child pornography was found, that he “probably put it there.” During a search, detectives found several images of child pornography.

Friedrich’s first court appearance was Wednesday, where Superior Court Judge Timothy Fennessy set bail at $250,000.