This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Washington superior court judge denied a motion from Steve Powell, father-in-law of missing Utah mother Susan Cox Powell, to vacate a $1.8 million judgment against him.
Representing himself, Powell had said the damages were "excessive" and indicated "the verdict must have been the result of passion or prejudice." He said he only learned about the damages, ordered Aug. 28, on Oct. 24, after an attorney representing the victims gave him a document.
The plaintiffs countered in a response to his motion that Powell "has not even hinted at the existence of a defense," and that his focus on the size of the judgment was irrelevant.
Since the judgment was ordered, it has accrued $651.50 in interest each day, which Powell, 63, will have to pay in addition to the principal.
Powell was convicted in June 2012 on 14 counts of voyeurism after secretly photographing two young girls in states of undress in his Puyallup, Wash., neighborhood.
Powell was given a 30-month sentence and is currently serving at Monroe Correctional Complex.
His daughter-in-law, Susan Cox Powell, disappeared from her home in West Valley City four years ago. Her husband and Steve's son, Josh, killed himself and the couple's two boys in February 2012.
Twitter: @matthew_piper