Judges refuses Steven Powell request to toss child porn evidence

Steven Powell

The effort by Steven Powell to suppress evidence in the child pornography case against him has failed.

Powell, the father-in-law of missing Utah mom Susan Cox Powell, was arrested last September after police say they found more than 2,000 pornographic images of girls and women on Powell’s computer while searching for evidence in Cox’s disappearance. Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist stated that some of the videos were of Susan Powell, recorded by hidden cameras.

Authorities also stated in court documents that Powell’s bedroom had images of nude women with Susan Powell’s face pasted onto them.

The county sheriff also claimed to have determined that the girls in the video were past neighbors of Powell’s, and were as young as 8 years old. Powell’s bedroom window reportedly faces the girls’ previous residence.

Powell’s defense attorney had sought to dismiss the evidence, arguing that the police did not have probable cause to search Powell’s home.

But because Powell’s son, Josh Powell, was living at the home at the time, the judge ruled that investigators were within their rights to look for Susan’s diaries, as well as confiscate any digital media in the home, according to KSL.

The judge stated that there was a “very reasonable inference” that Josh Powell was involved with the disappearance of his wife. Earlier this year, Josh Powell barricaded himself in the home after a social worker had dropped off his two sons. Shortly after, a large explosion occurred, killing both Josh Powell and the two boys.

Steven Powell, 62, has remained in jail since his arrest.

According to the Associated Press, Susan’s parents expressed “relief” to hear the judge point a finger at Josh Powell, who was never arrested or named a suspect in Susan’s disappearance.