Steven Powell home is sold to his victims' mother

Steven Powell's house has been sold to the mother of the girls he surreptitiously photographed.

A judge ordered the Puyallup, Wash., home be sold as part of a judgment that was entered in August against Powell, father-in-law of missing Utah mom Susan Cox Powell. He had been convicted in May 2012 of 14 counts of voyeurism for taking surreptitious photos of two young girls in the bathroom of their home.

"We obtained [an about $2 million] judgment against Steven Powell on behalf of the girls he victimized," Anne Bremner, an attorney for the Cox family, confirmed on Sunday. The Pierce County, Wash. Sheriff's Office sold Powell's house as part of the judgment collection process.

The mother of the two girls bought the home last week "with credit from the judgment owed," Bremner said, adding that "there will be a redemption period which follows."

Law enforcement found the photos of the neighborhood children during a search of Steven Powell's home for evidence about his missing daughter-in-law. Susan Cox Powell, 28, disappeared from her home in West Valley City in December 2009. She has never been found.

Steven Powell had argued that the planned auction of his house would leave him and two adult children homeless. The Washington Department of Corrections rejected an early termination plan that would have allowed Steven Powell to be released last May in part because he planned to move back into the residence.

A second release plan fell apart in November after a landlord withdrew an offer to rent to him.

Steve Powell was eventually freed in March.

mmcfall@sltrib.com

Twitter: @mikeypanda