Steven Powell Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison

TACOMA, WA – Today Pierce County Superior Court Judge Ronald Culpepper sentenced Steven Powell, 62, to 30 months in prison, an exceptional sentence beyond the standard range, for taking voyeuristic photographs of two young neighbor girls in their bathroom and in various stages of undress. He was convicted of 14 counts.

Deputy prosecutors Grant Blinn and Bryce Nelson argued for an exceptional sentence of 10 years. Under sentencing laws, the standard range sentence is 0 to 12 months. The legal basis for the exceptional sentence was the multiple offenses against the two victims. During sentencing, the judge referred to the defendant as the “ultimate creep of a neighbor.” The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender.

“We’re pleased that the judge agreed with us that an exceptional sentence was called for in this case,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “While we recommended a longer sentence than was imposed, the important thing is that Mr. Powell has been held accountable for his crimes in Pierce County and this chapter is done.”

On May 16, a jury found the defendant guilty of 14 counts of Voyeurism. The charges were based on images of two girls discovered during a search of the defendant’s residence as part of the ongoing homicide investigation regarding Susan Powell. Investigators determined that the victims lived next door to the defendant from June, 2006 to August, 2007. His bedroom window faced the side of the victims’ residence and the line of sight matched the camera angle seen in the videos. The victims were as young as eight and ten years old at the time of the recording. 

The defendant is the father of Josh Powell, who is presumed to have murdered Susan Powell in Utah in 2009. Josh Powell was never arrested or charged. On February 5, 2012, he killed himself and his two young sons when he burned down his rented home in Graham.