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Accused kidnapper indicted on federal child porn charges

Story Highlights

• Michael Devlin charged with four counts of child pornography
• The 41-year-old charged with two counts of taking a minor across state lines
• Parents of teen say they think their son was sexually assaulted
• Devlin is being held in Franklin County, Missouri, on $1 million bail
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(CNN) -- Michael Devlin, accused of abducting two Missouri boys and holding one for four years, has been indicted in federal court on child pornography charges, a federal prosecutor said Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway announced the charges -- four counts of child pornography and two counts of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in illegal sexual activity.

The charges relate to the boy that was held for four years. Both boys were freed on January 12.

The parents of 15-year-old Shawn Hornbeck, whom Devlin is accused of abducting in 2002, told Oprah Winfrey in a show that aired in January that they suspect their son was sexually assaulted by Devlin.

During that portion of the interview, Shawn, who was 11 when he disappeared, was not in the room. (Read full story)

Hanaway said Devlin, a former pizzeria manager, faces up to 170 years in prison on the six charges.

Devlin, 41, has already pleaded not guilty to charges in Franklin and Washington counties that he kidnapped a 13-year-old boy in January and an 11-year-old boy in 2002. He faces life in prison on those charges.

He has also been charged in St. Louis County with 71 related counts. The first 18 counts -- one count of kidnapping and 17 of forcible sodomy -- relate to the abduction of Ben Ownby, 13.

The remaining counts are kidnapping and forcible sodomy charges related to the 2002 abduction of Shawn Hornbeck.

Those charges also carry life sentences.

The new charges allege that Devlin produced Polaroid photographs and videos of Hornbeck and took him to Illinois and Arizona.

"I'm sickened by it," Hanaway said. "This minor, over the course of five years, had child pornography produced with them as the victim, and was taken across state lines so that illegal sex acts could be committed."

The two boys were discovered January 12 in Devlin's Kirkwood, Missouri, apartment after officers questioning him about his truck -- which matched the description of a vehicle seen on Ben Ownby's street when he was abducted -- became suspicious about his demeanor. (Read full story)

Typically, CNN does not identify alleged victims in sexual assault cases but has decided to do so in these cases, given the publicity their cases have already received.

Devlin is being held in Franklin on $1 million bail.

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Federal prosecutors say Michael Devlin is charged with child pornography in relation to his alleged kidnapping of a Missouri boy.

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