Mo. Kidnapper Gets Life Sentence

Michael Devlin, Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 2 Boys, Wants To Be "At Peace"

(CBS/AP)  A former pizzeria manager who snatched a teen off a rural road - a crime that led to the discovery of another missing boy - was sentenced to life in prison Monday as the sprawling case neared an end.

Michael Devlin, 41, said little at the brief hearing, the first of several this week in which he is expected to plead guilty to abducting and sexually abusing the boys, one of whom was held captive for four days, the other for four years.

Prosecutors painted the most detailed portrait yet of Devlin as a predator, laying out evidence showing how he hunted the area for months before taking 13-year-old William "Ben" Ownby at gunpoint after he stepped off his school bus Jan. 8.

In the three months before Ben's abduction, Devlin visited rural areas, driving near schools and following school bus routes "in hopes of finding a boy," Franklin County prosecutor Bob Parks said.

One day, Parks said, Devlin "followed one boy as he walked down the road by himself. This turned out to be Ben Ownby."

With duct tape, a brown hooded sweat shirt and a 9 mm gun in his pickup, Devlin drove up to Ben and asked him if he knew where some people lived, Parks said.

When Ben appeared nervous, Parks said, Devlin grabbed him and shoved him into the truck. Ben asked Devlin why he was taking him, Parks said.

"The defendant said, `Just because,'" Parks said, and drove back to his apartment in Kirkwood, Mo.

Police followed a tip to Devlin's apartment four days later, where they found Ben and Shawn Hornbeck , 15.

Devlin's attorneys said he accepted a plea deal after reviewing the evidence collected by authorities. The boys' families said they were relieved because the pleas will spare the teens from testifying and publicly reliving the case.

"Nothing good could have come from a trial," said defense attorney Michael Kielty. "The evidence...is just absolutely overwhelming."

Don Ownby, Ben's father, stared stoically and silently as Circuit Court Judge Stanley Williams sentenced Devlin to life for kidnapping and 20 years for armed criminal action. Ben's mother, Doris Ownby, nervously clenched her fists.

Devlin did not apologize.

"I have no feelings for that person," Don Ownby said afterward, adding that his son had returned to the life he knew before the abduction and chose not to attend the hearing.

Washington County prosecutor John Rupp said Devlin will plead guilty Tuesday to kidnapping, abusing and attempting to murder Hornbeck in 2002. Rupp said Devlin kidnapped Shawn at gunpoint when the boy, then 11, was riding his bike in the remote town of Richwoods.

Devlin also is due in court Tuesday in St. Louis County and in federal court in St. Louis by Wednesday. Prosecutors say they expect Devlin will receive multiple, consecutive life sentences, all but assuring that Devlin will die in prison.

"This is a predator. This guy is evil. This is evil incarnate. You will never see anybody worse than this because this is a guy that preys on our kids," Parks said after Monday's hearing.

While it is The Associated Press' policy not to identify suspected victims of sexual abuse in most cases, the story of Shawn and Ben has been widely publicized and their names are well known.

[godofredo29]

"This guy is evil. This is evil incarnate."

Are these the technical terms, mister prosecuting attorney? ***...It''s the sensationalist Court TV mentality that would rather see a murder victim than a crime prevented. People like this Devlin character can be seen coming a mile away, but our choice is to not intervene and let the worst happen rather than screen before hand and apply solutions before things get out of hand. Scott Peterson would have presented all kinds of red flags if he had been through an expectant fathers evaluation. The guy that killed Jessica Lundsford begged for intervention when he was picked up in Georgia. Then he was released, went to Florida and we know the rest.

[michellem99-2009]

Amen crzmeat..Yer know my ideas on this issue friend.

[zootallures2]

It''s a violent pornography!
Choking chicks and SODOMY!
The kinda *** thats on your TV!

It''s on the TV.
It''s on your TV.
Turn off your TV.

Can you say brainwashing?

It''s a non-stop disco.

[Krazcarl]

You know what pisses me off that sack of manure is trying to reach out to the victum throught his lawyer and the lawyer is playing the game and should be disbarred if he cared so much about Shane he would have left him alone. The lawyer is trying to draw attention to himself doesn''t he know how sick this is like that sack of manure "cares" about Shawn that EVIL pedophile. I say again the lawyer should be disbarred for making that public statement and being a mouthpiece for that queer,

[Krazcarl]

robertkjjj... I never understood g*y men in prison. I asked a G*y guy once he said oh no thier mean let''s hope they are...

[robertkjjj]

It''s good he likes sexual abuse, because he''s going to get PLENTY of it where he''s going. This walking piece of garbage might as well have a giant bullseye on his rect*m now. There aint nothing that convicts hate more than pedophiles. Fresh meat arrives in prison soon!

[robertkjjj]

It''s good he likes sexual abuse, because he''s going to get PLENTY of it where he''s going. This walking piece of garbage might as well have a giant bullseye on his *** now. There aint nothing that convicts hate more than pedophiles. Fresh meat arrives in prison soon!

[inmo-2009]

I feel the only reason this jerk is not proceeding with a trail is so he can contiue to try and control Shawn''s mind.
Devlin doesn''t want him to have to go through anything else? He held him captive for 4 years and did only God knows what to the poor child.
In this case there is no reason to even waste money for a trail.
I have the money for a bullet - anyone got a gun - it would be faster and cheaper that way - and he already admitted he is guilty!

[Krazcarl]

This piece of manure isn''t trying to save anybody anything but himself he would easily be convicted he''s just trying to whittle away some years with the hopes of seeing the light of day again. Which should not happen. He should have the nerve to do himself in like the DA fron Fl...