Judge rules evidence seized from Powell home admissible in child porn, voyeurism trial

A judge in Washington has cleared the way for the voyeurism trial of missing Utah mother Susan Powell’s father-in-law.

Judge Ronald Culpepper dismissed Steve Powell’s motion Tuesday to suppress evidence collected during a search of his home last year. Those key pieces of evidence include thousands of images of females being videotaped without their knowledge.

Powell’s attorneys had argued that the warrant was illegal because it was essentially a fishing expedition designed to gather general evidence against his son Josh, who was Susan Powell’s husband.

Josh Powell killed himself and the couple’s two children earlier this year.

Prosecutors say the search warrant, served on Aug. 25, 2011, was necessary for investigators looking into Susan Powell’s 2009 disappearance.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and West Valley City, Utah police department executed the search.

Judge Culpepper determined in his ruling Tuesday that there was probable cause to search the home, and the search warrant was proper.

“Officers carefully played by the rules when they searched Steven Powell’s home, and we are pleased the judge agreed the search was lawful,” said Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

Steve Powell is charged with 14 counts of Voyeurism, each based on separate incidents when victims were recorded in a bathroom, and one count of Possession of Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct for his possession of the images.

Steve Powell’s trial is scheduled to start May 7.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.