Michael Devlin, a 42-year-old former pizza shop manager who kidnapped two boys and keeping one of them with him for more than four years, has started serving his 74 life terms in solitary confinement. He has also been sentenced to 170 years in Federal prison.
He will serve out his sentences at the maximum-security prison in Cameron. His cell is located in “administrative segregation” and he will be confined nearly all the time. He will not have any contact with the other inmates and he is not allowed any physical contact with any visitors. Devlin will be allowed an hour of recreation three times a week and a shower every third day.
Federal and state prosecutors had charged Devlin with multiple counts of sexual abuse, abduction, and kidnapping. Last October, Devlin, pled guilty in three Missouri counties and in federal court to abducting Shawn Hornbeck, 11, in 2002 and Ben Ownby, 13, in January 2007.
The two boys were found at Devlin’s residence in St. Louis County four days after Ownby’s kidnapping. Devlin was arrested on January 12, 2007.
Both boys have not discussed their ordeal public. According to news reports, however, Shawn, now 16, was tortured and sexually abused by Devlin. Shawn was with Devlin for over four years. Devlin had Shawn pose as his son. Shawn was reportedly too scared of Devlin to let people know who he really was.
A person who is arrested or charged for allegedly committing any crime, including kidnapping or a sexual crime, is entitled to the services of an experienced criminal defense team that is committed to protecting the defendant’s legal rights. Our Boston, Massachusetts criminal defense law firm represents criminal defense clients who are under investigation or have been charged with crimes in Massachusetts.
The U.S. Justice Department says that some 800,000 children in the United States are reported missing every year. A little over 260,000 of these cases involve an actual abduction. About 204,000 of the incidents usually involve some sort of family custody dispute. 58,000 of the cases involve children who were abducted by someone that is not a relative. 115 of these abductions involve victims who are taken away by permanently, held for ransom or are murdered.
Kidnapper’s future: 74 life terms completely alone, CNN.com, January 31, 2008
A year after ordeal ended, kidnapped boy doing well, MSNBC.com, January 11, 2008
Life returning to normal for Ben Ownby, MSNBC.com, January 8, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Child Abduction, Analysis, The Crime Library
Child Abduction Facts, Parents.com
Contact the Boston, Massachusetts criminal defense law firm of Altman & Altman LLP to discuss your case during a free consultation.