St. Louis-area man pleads guilty in kidnapping case

UNION, Mo. -- A former pizza parlor manager was sentenced to life in prison Monday for the kidnapping of one of two boys he is accused of holding captive in his apartment.

Michael Devlin, 41, pleaded guilty to one charge of child kidnapping and one charge of armed-criminal action in the January abduction of 13-year-old William "Ben" Ownby.

It was the first in a series of hearings this week in four jurisdictions where Devlin faces more than 80 counts in the kidnappings and sexual abuse of Ownby and Shawn Hornbeck. He is expected to plead guilty to all of the charges against him, a prosecutor and a relative of the boys has said.

Devlin declined to speak about his plea in court.

Ben was 13 when he disappeared minutes after stepping off his school bus in rural Franklin County. Four days later, a tip led to Devlin's cramped apartment in Kirkwood, Mo., where both boys were found. Authorities said Hornbeck was held for more than four years after he was kidnapped in 2002.

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.

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, 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."