Michael Devlin Charged with 69 Felony Counts of Forcible Sodomy

Michael Devlin, a 41-year-old pizzeria manager, was arrested on January 12 and accused of kidnapping two boys, one of whom he held for more than four years. Ben Ownby, 13, disappeared January 8 after getting off the school bus in Beaufort, Missouri. A white pickup truck that was seen speeding away from the area led police to investigate Devlin’s apartment in the St. Louis suburb of Kirkwood. On January 12, officers went to Devlin’s apartment and found Ownby, as well as 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck, who was abducted in 2002.

Since Devlin’s arrest, officials have made no public comment about their investigation or pending charges. But Monday authorities openly accused Michael Devlin of molesting the children, charging him with 69 counts of forcible sodomy, all of which are felonies, and each of which is punishable by up to life in prison.

Robert McCulloch, St. Louis County prosecutor, said that 17 of the counts against Devlin are related to Ben Ownby, and the remaining counts are related to Shawn Hornbeck. According to the charges, Devlin is alleged to have forced Ben to participate in "deviate sexual intercourse" four times a day during each of the four days that Devlin held him captive. He is also alleged to have kept Shawn isolated in his apartment after using a gun to threaten him and kidnapping him in October 2002, forcing him to have intercourse throughout the first month and at least once a month thereafter until both boys were found in January.

Authorities would not discuss any other details of the allegations, but McCulloch said that the evidence collected includes information provided by interviews with all of the people involved in the case. "Devlin acknowledged committing these acts," McCulloch said. Devlin has pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping charges.

Ethan Corlija and Michael Kielty, Devlin’s defense attorneys, issued a written statement saying that they had explained the charges to their client and he understands the severity of the case against him. "We have also told Mr. Devlin that we have received no evidence from any of the prosecutors about any of the charges," the statement said. "Common sense and the Constitution would suggest that everyone should wait to hear any evidence before reaching any final judgment."