Devlin expected to plead guilty in back-to-back hearings

UNION, Mo. -- Michael Devlin, a former pizza parlor manager accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting two boys, is expected to plead guilty, starting today, in a series of hearings early this week in four jurisdictions.

Devlin faces more than 80 counts in Franklin, Washington and St. Louis counties, and in U.S. District Court in St. Louis.

The pleas are the result of coordination among prosecutors and Devlin's attorneys.

A prosecutor and several other sources close to the case say Devlin will plead guilty and receive multiple life sentences.

Devlin was said to be "at peace" about pleading to the charges. One of his attorneys, Michael Kielty, said Devlin wants to spare his family and his longtime captive, Shawn Hornbeck, the anguish of a trial.

"He instructed me to give this message," the lawyer, Michael Kielty, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I think he's at peace. He's looking forward to a disposition."

Devlin, 41, has been jailed since Jan. 12 when police went to his Kirkwood apartment in search of William "Ben" Ownby, 13, of Beaufort. Ben had been kidnapped four days earlier.

Rescuers were shocked to find Ben and Shawn, now 16, who had disappeared while riding a bike in Richwoods in 2002.

Kielty said he had told Devlin he felt he could have mustered a defense -- exposing reasonable doubt -- for some of the charges, but not all.

Kielty said he presented everything to Devlin during one of their many recent jailhouse visits and let him decide.

"Here's why Mike is pleading guilty -- at one trial or four trials, he didn't think he could get any better of a deal," Kielty said.

Kielty said Devlin wanted the public to know that his family had no role in the crimes and no knowledge of them. And, the attorney added, Devlin wants to make it clear that Shawn was held against his will.

"What Mike's getting out of this is, he's not exposing his family to any more scrutiny," Kielty said. "These are good people. They don't want to be subjugated to this media circus. And, he will not drag Shawn into court. He doesn't want to put Shawn through anything else."

Those who know the boys' families expressed relief, but many said they still have unanswered questions.

Anna Vance, 59, of Richwoods, said she always wondered if Devlin had acted alone and if there were other unknown victims.

Spokesmen for the families of Shawn and Ben said Friday they were thrilled with the news, but remained cautiously optimistic until the deal was completed in court.

Devlin will appear at 10 a.m. Monday in Franklin County Circuit Court, then 9 a.m. Tuesday in Washington County. He'll appear at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court and in federal court in St. Louis either later Tuesday or Wednesday.