Mike Devlin Charged with Forcible Sodomy in Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby Kidnapping Cases

41-year-old pizzeria manger, Mike Devlin, has already pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges he faces in Washington and Franklin counties.

Yet, Prosecutor Robert McCulloch announced at a news conference Monday that Devlin faces 71 counts in St. Louis County. The charges pertain to kidnapping, restraining victims and forcible sodomy. The charges were formed based on interviews with Devlin himself, and his victims, McCulloch said.

Today's charges are the first we've heard from authorities, accusing Devlin of molesting the 13 and 15 year old boys. Each charge is a felony and punishable by up to life in prison.

Shawn Hornbeck, taken while riding his bike near his home in Richwoods, was 11 at the time of his kidnapping. Ben Ownby was abducted after exiting his school bus in Beaufort on January 8. It was an eye witness testimony to a white pickup seen speeding away that ultimately led police to Devlin and the boys.

Both boys were found inside Devlin's apartment in the St. Louis County suburb of Kirkwood on January 12th.

While McCulloch did not divulge the victims' names at today's new conference, which is the protocol in sex abuse cases, the names of Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby are anything but unknown in the press. Oprah Winfrey received the first exclusive interview with Hornbeck and his parents. Bill O'Reilly, of the Fox News Channel, drew criticism when he suggested that Shawn chose to stay with his kidnapper, and that they were having fun.

Even Devlin's family has been exposed. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch published an exclusive interview with Devlin's brother, Brian. He claims a network morning show contacted him and offered to pay for his stay in a New York hotel for two weeks.

Devlin's landlord says he was offered $10,000 by a tabloid to allow them access to Devlin's apartment. He declined the offer.

A college student doing freelance work for the New York Post was able to get a jailhouse interview with Devlin, simply by identifying herself at the Franklin Country Jail as "a friend" of Devlin's. Journalists are in hot debate over her actions, but in the meantime the story has been one of the juiciest pieces to come from the kidnappings. It even dubbed Devlin the New York Posts' "Kidnap Creep."

Devlin's lawyers were furious, and requested their client be relocated to a more safe and secure location, the St. Louis County Jail. This is where serial killer, Maury Travis, was being held when he managed to hang himself while on suicide watch.