Steve Powell, father-in-law of Susan Powell, faces voyeurism trial in Washington
(CBS/AP) SEATTLE - Jury selection in the trial of Steve Powell, father-in-law of missing Utah woman Susan Powell, is set to begin Monday in Tacoma, Wash.
Powell, 62, has pleaded not guilty to 14 counts of voyeurism and one count of possession of child pornography.
Powell was arrested in September 2011 after detectives found sexually explicit images of minors during a search of his computer related to his daughter-in-law's 2009 disappearance. Police allegedly found thousands of voyeuristic images on Steve's computers - including shots of young neighborhood girls bathing and using the toilet. There were also images of Susan that appeared to be secretly recorded and pictures of naked women with Susan's head superimposed, authorities said.
The arrest prompted the state to take custody of Powell's grandsons, Charlie and Braden, who were living with their father Josh Powell at Steve Powell's home. The boys were turned over to Susan's parents.
Josh Powell, who was under suspicion for his wife's disappearance, killed himself and his two sons on Feb. 5 during a supervised visit with them. Powell shot and reportedly hacked the boys to death and then set the house he was renting on fire.
Now Susan Powell's relatives are hoping her father-in-law's trial will shed light on the tragedies.
"We don't expect a great deal, but we want to be there," said her father, Chuck Cox. "Maybe he'll decide he has lost, and that he needs to propose a bargain to tell the detectives what he knows. Perhaps he might decide he can inflict one more insult by blurting out something that might be useful."
So far police in West Valley City, Utah, have characterized Steve Powell as uncooperative in their investigation of Susan's disappearance. He has invoked his right to remain silent, and no evidence has emerged to suggest he traveled to Utah the weekend his daughter-in-law disappeared.
Before he died, Josh Powell maintained he knew nothing about what happened to his wife.
Opening statements in the trial are expected Wednesday.