© 2024 St. Louis Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Other

Devlin's lawyer dismisses suggested plea deal

Devlin
Devlin

By AP/KWMU

St. Louis – Michael Devlin's attorney is dismissing a plea deal being drafted by state and federal prosecutors.

Attorney Ethan Corlija says the broad outlines of the package already make it a nonstarter.

He says he would rather take the case before a jury than tell Devlin to accept such a deal in the works by prosecutors in three counties and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Franklin County Prosecutor Robert Parks has said that the four jurisdictions are drafting a plea bargain that would include "several consecutive life sentences."

Parks said Thursday he is not willing to offer a better deal.

Devlin is accused of kidnapping 13-year-old Ben Ownby and Shawn Hornbeck, who is now 15.

He faces 81 state and federal counts of kidnapping, sexual assault and producing child pornography.

Other