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Man Pleads Guilty to 2nd Kidnapping
Criminal Law Updates | 2007/10/10 15:20
A former pizzeria manager said Tuesday that he attempted to kill a boy he kidnapped and held captive in his apartment, but the child persuaded him not to do it.

Michael Devlin, 41, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and attempting to murder Shawn Hornbeck, and received multiple life sentences. He pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping another boy, and is expected to enter more guilty pleas in other courts.

During Tuesday's hearing, Devlin — standing just feet away from Shawn's weeping parents — admitted in graphic detail how he abducted Shawn in 2002. He described the point at which the boy apparently turned from being an abduction victim to a captive forced to stay alive by following Devlin's horrific orders.

After Shawn was abducted at gunpoint while riding his bike in rural Washington County, Devlin took the then-11-year-old to his apartment in suburban St. Louis where he repeatedly sexually assaulted the boy. Days later, Devlin took Shawn back to rural Washington County in his pickup truck, apparently intent on killing him.

He said he pulled Shawn from his truck and began to strangle him. Shawn resisted.

"I attempted to kill (Shawn) and he talked me out of it," Devlin said.

Devlin stopped the choking, but then sexually assaulted the boy again. Prosecutors said it was at that point that Shawn told Devlin he would do whatever was asked of him in order to stay alive.

"This boy made this contract, this deal with the devil, only to survive," Washington County prosecutor John Rupp said.

Devlin kidnapped William "Ben" Ownby in January, and police who found Ben four days after he was taken were shocked to discover a 15-year-old Shawn in Devlin's apartment.

Devlin pleaded guilty Monday to one charge of child kidnapping and one charge of armed criminal action in Ben's abduction.

Prosecutors said the combined pleas mean Devlin will not be eligible for parole until he is more than 100 years old. He was sentenced to three life terms plus 60 years in prison Tuesday, in addition to a life sentence he received Monday.

Rupp said he was satisfied with the sentences Devlin received.

"You heard it from his own mouth. You've heard what kind of a monster he is," Rupp said after the hearing.

Devlin's defense attorneys and Shawn's parents declined to comment Tuesday. Devlin was expected to plead guilty later Tuesday in St. Louis County to 71 felony charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault, and was to appear in federal court in St. Louis by Wednesday.

Devlin's attorneys have said he accepted a plea deal after reviewing the massive body of evidence collected by state and federal authorities. The boys' families said they were relieved because the pleas will spare the teens from testifying and reliving the ordeal.

"Nothing good could have come from a trial," said defense attorney Michael Kielty. "The evidence ... is just absolutely overwhelming."

While it is The Associated Press' policy not to identify suspected victims of sexual abuse in most cases, the story of Shawn and Ben has been widely publicized and their names are well known.



Police Kill Man Who Shot 5 at Law Firm
Criminal Law Updates | 2007/10/06 18:10
Anger over a divorce settlement may have driven a 63-year-old Baptist deacon to shoot five people in a law office, killing two, then exchange gunfire with police during a standoff, authorities said Friday.

A special tactical unit used explosives to enter the building shortly after midnight and shot John Ashley to death after he opened fire, police spokesman Sgt. Clifford Gatlin said. Autopsies were planned on the three victims, he said.

Police said Ashley repeatedly shot at them during the 10-hour standoff Thursday, and even shot at a remote-controlled police robot they sent inside. No officers were hurt.

"This is, it's a shock," Gatlin said. "It's big for us, because we know everybody."

Ashley, a retired city maintenance worker, was found in the back of the office, which was converted from a single-story house.

The two people police say he killed were found in the front of the building, where police rescued one of the three surviving victims Thursday afternoon. The other survivors escaped on their own.

Gatlin said investigators have learned the shooting was "a possible dispute over a divorce settlement," but that he had no further details.

He said investigators will need to speak with the three survivors to determine a motive, and at least two of them were seriously injured.

The shooting rampage near the Rapides Parish Courthouse astounded people who knew Ashley in Alexandria, a central Louisiana town of about 46,000.



MIT student arrested at Logan airport for fake bomb
Criminal Law Updates | 2007/09/22 16:35

A dopey MIT student's art stunt bombed big-time yesterday when she was arrested at gunpoint after wearing a phony bomb into an airport terminal.

Star Simpson was sporting a computer circuit board with flashing lights and wires - all, apparently, in the name of art - as she prepared to walk back inside a terminal at Boston's Logan Airport.

Simpson, who was carrying Play-Doh in her hands, ended up with submachine guns in her face after the boneheaded stunt.

"She said that it was a piece of art and she wanted to stand out on career day," State Police Maj. Scott Pare said.

The supposedly smart MIT student wore a wired black sweatshirt with the phrases "Socket to me" and "Course VI" written on the back.

"I'm shocked and appalled that somebody would wear this type of device to an airport," Pare said.

Simpson pleaded not guilty to disturbing the peace.

The 19-year-old sophomore from Hawaii first aroused suspicions when she approached an airport worker inside the terminal while wearing the bomblike device. When she walked outside, she was pounced on by police.

"She was immediately told to stop, to raise her hands and not to make any movement, so we could observe all her movements to see if she was trying to trip any type of device," Pare said. "Had she not followed the protocol, we might have used deadly force."

Simpson told police she was at the airport to pick up someone flying in from Oakland. "She did seem a bit upset that she was in custody," Pare said. "However, she was rational, and she did answer all questions as required."

It was the second stunt in recent months to shake Boston into high alert for fear of a terrorist attack. In January, bomb squads were set into action when dozens of battery-powered devices that turned out to be ads for the Cartoon Network were found around the city.



Vegas Priest Pleads Guilty to Battery
Criminal Law Updates | 2007/09/21 14:44
A Roman Catholic priest who smashed a wine bottle over the head of a woman in church pleaded guilty to felony battery with a deadly weapon. The Rev. George Chaanine admitted Thursday in Clark County District Court that he smashed the bottle over the 54-year-old woman's head at Our Lady of Las Vegas Catholic Church in January. Prosecutors dropped other charges, including attempted murder and sexual assault.

"Our prosecutors analyzed the case, they spoke with the victim, and she thought it was best to resolve this case short of trial," District Attorney David Roger said.

Neither the woman nor her lawyer could be reached for comment.

Chaanine, 53, remained in jail on $1 million bail pending sentencing Nov. 1. The battery charge carries a maximum prison term of six to 15 years, but Chaanine could be eligible for probation, officials said.

He remains suspended by the Diocese of Las Vegas. The district attorney said that as a convicted felon, Chaanine would "probably never be a priest again."

Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee said Chaanine took responsibility for the attack, but "vehemently denies there was any sexual assault."

The woman sang at the church and was hired by Chaanine in October as the parish events coordinator. She accused Chaanine of hitting her in the head with a wine bottle on Jan. 26, stomping on her hand, groping her and choking her until she began praying. She said he suddenly stopped and fled.

Chaanine was arrested almost a week later near Phoenix. The woman was treated for a broken hand and a gash on the head, authorities said.

Both sides characterized Chaanine's relationship with his accuser as more than priest and parishioner, but they did not say the two were romantically involved.

Bishop Joseph Pepe, the head of the Las Vegas Diocese, issued the a statement Thursday characterizing the church community as saddened and saying he prayed for "unity and strength" in the congregation.



Man Pleads Guilty in Dog Beheading
Criminal Law Updates | 2007/09/19 09:14
A man pleaded guilty Tuesday in the killing and beheading of a dog belonging to a girl who had spurned his affections.

Anthony Gomez, 24, admitted in court that he watched another man shoot the dog, then encouraged the man to behead the animal, a 4-year-old Australian shepherd mix named Chevy.

Three weeks after the dog disappeared in February, its severed head was sent in a package to its owner, 17-year-old Crystal Brown. Brown's family said that she had rejected Gomez's advances and that they believed he had the dog killed out of spite.

Gomez pleaded guilty to terroristic threats and is to be sentenced in November to 21 months.

After the story became known, Brown received letters of condolence, pictures of pets, dog toys and treats, gift cards, and checks from as far away as Australia.



Identity thieves preying on Islanders with IRS scam
Criminal Law Updates | 2007/09/13 13:58

District Attorney Daniel DonovanStaten Island District Attorney Daniel Donovan is warning Staten Islanders of an Internet scam aimed at stealing victims' credit card and other personal information by promising a reward of $80 for participation in a fictitious United States Internal Revenue Service "Customer Satisfaction Survey." "In recent weeks, a number of individuals have called my office to inquire after they received official-looking e-mails from an address that appeared to belong to the IRS," Donovan said.

"My office contacted the IRS and determined that this is yet another scam for people to be wary of in their e-mail. The IRS has advised us that they will never initiate contact with you via e-mail."

This particular scam lures unsuspecting people in by dangling $80 in front of them upon completion of the survey.

The catch is the person filling out the survey must include pertinent credit card or bank account information for the cash to be direct deposited into the account.

The e-mail is littered with IRS references and the link to the survey and all of the information on the page has a phony copyright statement at the bottom.

Anyone who receives the survey scam message should immediately forward it to phishing@irs.gov so the IRS can investigate the sender.

"Anyone who is unfortunate enough to fall for one of these scams can face identity theft, which can cause financial hardship and ruin your credit," Donovan warned.

"If you have any doubt regarding the legitimacy of an e-mail you receive, you should immediately contact the company of government agency whose name is being referenced."



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