Man charged in kidnap of 2 boys indicted for child pornography

3/1/2007

ST. LOUIS (AP) A Missouri man accused of kidnapping and molesting two boys was indicted today on federal charges he took pornographic pictures and videos of one of the youngsters.

The indictment marked the first federal charges against Michael Devlin, 41, a former pizzeria manager from the St. Louis suburbs.

Devlin is charged with kidnapping and other offenses in the 2002 abduction of Shawn Hornbeck, who is now 15, and the January abduction of 13-year-old Ben Ownby. Both boys were found in Devlin s apartment Jan. 12.

U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway said the six-count indictment alleges Devlin photographed and videotaped a minor engaged in sexually explicit acts between 2002 and this year. Two other counts allege he took the minor to Illinois and Arizona with the intent to engage in sexual assault.

Hanaway said all six counts involved the same child, identified only as S. The charges did not name Shawn, but authorities have alleged that Devlin held him captive from October 2002, until police found the boy in January.

While it is The Associated Press policy not to identify alleged victims of sexual abuse in most cases, the boys stories have been widely publicized and their names are now well-known. Also, their families have gone public, conducting media interviews.

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