New porn accusation in missing Utah mom case

TACOMA, Wash. -- The husband of a missing Utah woman is the subject of a pornography and voyeurism investigation in Washington, a state assistant attorney said Tuesday in Pierce County Superior Court.

Josh Powell denied the accusation that came during a hearing to determine who will take custody of his children.

"I have had nothing to do with any kind of illegal pornography," he said.

Powell told the judge he's a good father and the children are not at risk.

The assistant attorney general for Child Protective Services, John Long, said he could not divulge more about the investigation.

Susan Cox Powell has been missing since 2009. Josh Powell has been the only named person of interest in the case.

Powell and his young boys have been living in Puyallup at the home of his father, Steven Powell, who was arrested last week and charged with voyeurism and child pornography in connection with videos that were found during a search of the home in August. He remained in jail in Tacoma Tuesday with bail set at $200,000.

Josh Powell said he would not pay his father's bail and his father would not be coming back to the house.

"There is no clear and present danger to my sons," he said.

Susan Powell's father, Chuck Cox, has filed for custody of the children. He and his lawyer asked for temporarily custody of the children pending a hearing for permanent custody.

Judge Kathryn Nelson took the matter under consideration and recessed the case until Wednesday, but the matter might be moot as its dependency proceeding would put the court case on hold.