Steven Powell found guilty on all 14 counts of voyeurism

A jury has determined Steven Powell is guilty on all 14
counts of voyeurism.

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

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