Devlin pleads guilty to charges

UNION, Mo. -- Facing "overwhelming evidence" against him, Michael Devlin admitted Monday to kidnapping young Ben Ownby -- accepting a life sentence during the first in a staccato series of expected guilty pleas for the abduction and sexual abuse of two boys held captive in Devlin's apartment.

The 41-year-old former pizzeria manager said little during the brief hearing as Franklin County prosecutors laid out evidence for the first time showing how Devlin cunningly hunted this rural area for months before taking 13-year-old William "Ben" Ownby at gunpoint after he exited his school bus on Jan. 8.

Police found Ben four days later in Devlin's suburban St. Louis apartment, and were shocked to also discover then-15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck, who had been missing for four years. Devlin is set to plead guilty in three more jurisdictions where he faces more than 80 felony charges for kidnapping and abusing both boys.

Devlin's attorneys said he accepted a plea deal after reviewing the massive body of evidence collected by state and federal 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."

Michael Devlin was escorted out of the Franklin County Courthouse under heavy security Monday in Union, Mo. (Jeff Roberson ~ Associated Press)

This week's court hearings bring a relatively swift end to the case that Kielty and his partner Ethan Corlija said previously they were ready to take to trial.

Devlin's life sentence was handed down just minutes after he waived his right to a separate sentencing hearing. He's expected to do the same in the other two county and federal jurisdictions where he's charged in the case. County prosecutors say they expect Devlin will receive multiple, consecutive life sentences in their jurisdictions -- all but assuring that Devlin will die in prison.

Ben's parents Don and Doris Ownby sat silently behind Devlin as Circuit Court Judge Stanley Williams sentenced the suspect to life for kidnapping and 20 years for armed criminal action.

Don Ownby stared stoically and silently at Devlin during the hearing, while Doris Ownby nervously clenched her fists. Devlin did not apologize to the family or to Ben.

"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.

"We're just glad that it's over," Doris added, before the family left the courthouse.

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

Devlin initially pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. Devlin's attorney Ethan Corlija, Kielty's partner, said months ago Devlin would not accept any plea deal with multiple and consecutive life sentences because that would be the worst penalty he could get if the case went to trial.