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Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.Steven Powell found guilty on all 14 counts of voyeurism
on May 16, 2012 @ 10:54 am (Updated: 9:52 pm - 5/16/12 )
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Powell simply looked off into a corner of the courtroom as the verdict was read. Anne Bremner, an attorney who represents the family of his missing daughter-in-law, smiled.
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for June 15.
Powell faces a standard sentence of around four years, but the state has alleged aggravating factors that could result in a longer term.
Chuck Cox, the father of Susan Powell, who disappeared in 2009, said he's pleased with the verdict and hopes it opens the door for negotiating for more information.
"The truth has finally been revealed and he's put away," sighed Denise Cox, Susan Powell's sister.
Authorities in that case found a disc in Powell's bedroom that they say contained images of young girls who lived next door.
Shortly after beginning deliberations, jurors asked if the disc was found in boxes containing only items belonging to Steve Powell. That question bothered attorney Anne Bremner, who represents both Susan Powell's family and the family of the neighbor girls.
"That was a little troubling," Bremner said. She was surprised the jury was taking so long on what she believed was a simple case.
Defense attorneys had noted authorities did not say whether Steve Powell's fingerprints were on the disc and said they never explored whether his bedroom door was locked.
The judge told jurors he could not answer their question and instructed them to keep deliberating.
"My family was automatically convicted two and a half years ago, and ever since then, I've lost a sister, a brother, two darling nephews and a great father to an unimaginably difficult situation that even I have a hard time understand sometimes," said Steven Powell's daughter, Alina.
On Tuesday, Alina launched a website showing him and Susan Powell in light moments captured on video.
Alina Powell said the site was not designed to influence the case but to show "sweet family moments." She said on the website that it also rebuts allegations Susan Powell hated her father-in-law.
Pierce County prosecutor Grant Blinn showed photos of the young girls to the jury while saying Steve Powell captured the images from his bedroom window.
"He was sitting there, lurking in the shadows, leering at the girls," Blinn said.
The files show the girls in a bathroom as they bathed and used the toilet, authorities said. The girls, identified in court only by their initials, were about 8 and 10 when the images were captured. The girls testified they had no idea someone had taken photos of them in the bathroom.
Defense attorney Travis Currie argued there were too many uncertainties in the evidence to convict. He questioned whether Steve Powell was the one who actually captured the images, noting others lived in the home in Washington state. He also wondered if the images were used for sexual gratification.
"There are people who are nosy, who like to spy on their neighbors," Currie said.
When talking about the burden of reasonable doubt, Currie reached as high as he could into the air, towering over the jury to emphasize how high of a bar that legal standard was.
Most jurors showed little emotion during the closing arguments, though a few looked away while the prosecutor showed the images of the girls.
Like much of the trial, the closing arguments made no mention of Susan Powell, even though Steve Powell was arrested in the voyeurism case last year after authorities investigating her disappearance in Utah searched his home in Washington state. Authorities have said Steve Powell's image collection included many photos of Susan Powell.
Her husband, Josh, killed himself and the couple's two young children in a house fire earlier this year.
___
Associated Press writer Mike Baker contributed to this report and can be reached on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/HiPpEV
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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JMJ wrote...Lock Him UpMay 16, 2012 10:52 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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SeattleNative wrote...I just hope that...May 16, 2012 11:07 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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ron prevost wrote...So long as Bubba keeps probing............May 16, 2012 11:34 am{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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juel wrote...Great comments!May 16, 2012 12:12 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Citizen of Krazy Town wrote...I would be surprised if he got more time than a DUI killerMay 16, 2012 12:33 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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black_bart wrote...Food for thought people.....May 16, 2012 12:55 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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Derrol_o wrote...black_bartMay 16, 2012 1:04 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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Zoeller wrote...He will be out in about a year!!!May 16, 2012 3:06 pm{ "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }- Reply
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