By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis – Michael Devlin now faces 20 consecutive life sentences for kidnapping and sexually abusing Ben Ownby and Shawn Hornbeck, and sentencing isn't finished.
Devlin received 73 life sentences in all. Most will be served concurrently, however he is to serve 20 of the sentences back-to-back.
Devlin was in two courtrooms Tuesday, in Washington and St. Louis Counties, to carry out plea deals that will prevent a trial.
Eighteen of the life sentences were handed down in St. Louis County, where Devlin held and abused the boys.
Shawn Hornbeck's father Craig Akers addressed the courtroom at the sentencing.
"Now the defendant claims remorse and says he doesn't want to put Shawn through a trial," Akers said. "We see this for what it truly is: A perverted control freak's warped last-ditch effort to prove he's still in control of Shawn's situation."
Devlin will go before a federal judge Wednesday in the last of his court appearances.
Even with the possibility of parole, prosecutors say they crafted the pleas to ensure Devlin will die in prison.