Missouri kidnapping defendant Michael Devlin now charged with sex abuse
Michael Devlin to face 71 new felony charges
9:59 a.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Michael Devlin is now facing 71 new felony charges in the alleged abductions of Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby, the two teenagers found in Devlin's apartment three weeks ago.
"Of the 71 counts, two are kidnapping, one involving each victim. They all pertain to restraining the victims in St. Louis County," St. Louis County Prosecutor Robert McColloch.
The St. Louis County prosecutor says Devlin, who managed a pizza restaurant near his home in Kirkwood, Mo., is facing 69 other charges involving sexual abuse.
The first 17 of those charges relate to the alleged abduction last month of 13-year-old Ownby. With the rest, more than 50 counts, related to Hornbeck who was allegedly abducted in 2002 when he was just 11-years-old.
There may still be federal charges filed against Devlin.
"Concern is impact anything may have on young witnesses, includes possibility of testifying, down the line, if at all," McColloch said.
Over the last three weeks investigators removed items from Devlin's apartment including a bedframe.
Devlin has already pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges in two other counties where the boys disappeared.
The St. Louis County prosecutor claims Devlin acknowledged committing the acts he was charged with today. Each charge carries a possible life sentence.
"He is an innocent man under the eyes of the law," said Devlin's attorney Ethan Corlija.
Devlin's attorneys say their client understands the new charges are serious. And in an exclusive interview with CNN, the defense team criticized authorities in other communities trying to see if there is a link between their missing children cases and Devlin.
"They're fishing expeditions by the authorities and our client is categorically -- and we, on behalf of our client are categorically -- denying any involvement in any and all of those cases," Devlin's attorney Michael Kielty said.
The lawyer representing Shawn Hornbeck and his parents says the family is finding a way to cope with learning the details of Hornbeck's ordeal.
"Yeah, it stings to see these things, to see your child out there. However, no matter what it is, no matter what the challenge, no matter how painful that day, that sting is nothing compared to the four and a half years without him," said Shawn Hornbeck's family attorney Scott Sherman.
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