Investigator, Steven Powell’s daughter testify in voyeurism case

Testimony is over in the Tacoma voyeurism trial of Steven
Powell with the defense offering no witnesses.

The final prosecution witness was Jennifer Graves,
Powell’s estranged daughter, who talked about her father’s
house in Puyallup and who lived there.

A Utah investigator testified about an entry in Powell’s
journal that prosecutors say was uncovered during a search
of his home last year. West Valley City Police Sgt. Todd
Gray said that Powell wrote how he enjoyed taking video of
“beautiful women of every age” and that he took the images
for personal use.

The prosecution rested, followed almost immediately by the
defense.

Powell himself was never called to testify. He faces 14
voyeurism counts, including accusations that he filmed two
neighbor girls using their second-floor bathroom.

Defense attorneys have at times pointed out that other
people lived in Steve Powell’s home, including Susan
Powell’s husband for a time after her disappearance. Josh
Powell was under scrutiny for her disappearance before he
killed himself and the couple’s two children this year.

Outside the courtroom, Chuck Cox, father of missing Utah
woman Susan Cox Powell, expressed frustration that his
daughter was not a larger part of this case.

He said it appeared that prosecutors were trying not to
prejudice the jury by referencing Susan Powell.

“We believe that she’s a big part of this and she’s
certainly a victim. We’ve been (told) the issues, but I
think they’re (prosecutors) being way too cautious about
not having her mentioned because they don’t want to
prejudice the jury and I understand. But without the
investigation into my daughter’s disappearance, they
wouldn’t have any evidence,” Cox said.

Graves again told reporters that she’s certain her father
knows what happened to Susan.

Powell was arrested in the voyeurism case last year after
authorities investigating Susan Powell’s disappearance
searched his home and found the images. Prosecutors say
two neighbor girls filmed by Powell were about 8 and 10
when the images were recorded in 2006-07.

The girls, identified in court only by their initials,
testified last week that it never occurred to them that
someone might be filming them as they washed, got dressed
or used the toilet in their second-floor bathroom.

Powell faces a standard sentence of around four years if
convicted, but the state has alleged aggravating factors
that could result in a longer term. Closing arguments for
the case were set for Tuesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.