Plea Deal Possible for Missouri Kidnap Suspect

UNION, Mo., March 6, 2007 — -- Prosecutors in Missouri say they areconsidering a plea deal that would include several life sentencesfor a man accused of kidnapping two boys and sexually abusing oneof them.

A local prosecutor says he may join with federal prosecutors andthose from other counties in offering a plea deal for MichaelDevlin. He pleaded not guilty today to charges of kidnapping andarmed criminal action for the January abduction of 13-year-old BenOwnby.

He has also been accused of abducting Shawn Hornbeck back in2002. Both boys were found in January at Devlin's apartment in aSt. Louis suburb.

Federal charges include taking a minor across state lines andsexually assaulting him.

Devlin has pleaded not guilty to all of the state charges, buthas not entered a plea in the federal case.