Michael Devlin has now been sentenced to 170 years in federal prison. Devlin heard his sentence handed down in federal court in St. Louis today. He had been convicted of child pornography and for transporting a minor across state lines for sex earlier. This is likely Devlin’s last court appearance in Missouri. His appearances in state courtrooms in October resulted in 74 life prison sentences on charges that he kidnapped and sexually molested two eastern Missouri boys.

The State Corrections Department is considering what to do with him and might send him to another state to serve his prison sentences. There are questions about Devlin’s safety if he goes to a Missouri prison. The parents of Shawn Hornbeck, the teen-ager held by Devlin for more than four years, tells the St. Louis Post Dispatch that they want him held in a Missouri prison. In fact, they want him held at the Potosi prison, only 25 miles from their home.

Shawn’s stepfather, Craig Akers, tells the Post Dispatch, "We want to keep tabs on him."

Both Hornbeck and Ben Ownby were rescued from Devlin’s Kirkwood apartment in January. Devlin has been incarcerated at a prison reception and diagnostic center in St. Joseph since October. Corrections officials say it will take as many as 20 days to determine where to send Devlin permanently.