ST. LOUIS – Kidnapper Michael Devlin received a surprisingly stiff sentence in U.S. District Court here Friday – a total of 170 years for federal crimes, well beyond what prosecutors had sought.

U.S. District Court Judge Jean C. Hamilton handed down the sentences in court shortly after 9 a.m.

Federal prosecutors had asked the judge to send Devlin away for 30 years on federal charges on a total of six charges of child pornography and transporting a minor across state lines.

This is the final criminal sentencing for the infamous child abductor, who already faces 74 life sentences on Missouri state charges.

Devlin would serve his 170-year federal sentence after he completes his state sentence – if he ever does. State prison officials say they do not believe Devlin will ever be eligible for parole.

Devlin, wearing an orange jumpsuit and his hands and feet shackled, declined to talk in court Friday. He was no longer clean-shaven, as he had been when he was sentenced in state courts in early October. Today, he sported a full beard, recalling the images of him when he was arrested for kidnapping Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby back in January.

Devlin displayed no emotions as the judge handed down the sentence.

One of his attorneys, Michael Kielty, caused a brief stir in court when he said that despite the charges against his client, “he’s a pretty good guy.”

Kielty told the judge that Devlin made the decision to spare his victims and his victims’ families by pleading guilty to the state and federal charges, avoiding lengthy trials.

Later, Kielty further explained his comment.

“This it the last opportunity that anybody on any level is going to have anything to say on Michael Devlin’s behalf,” Kielty said, adding, “He’s a likeable person” who has taken responsibility for his actions and “spared the victims and the victim’s families further turmoil.”

But U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway took issue with Kielty’s characterization. Hanaway said Devlin made the decision to kidnap his two victims, keeping one of them for four years, the other for four days, before he was caught.

“He didn’t spare anybody anything,” Hanaway said.

“My only disappointment is that Michael Devlin has but one life to serve his sentence,” she said.

Hanaway also said the defense attorney was motivated to call Devlin “a pretty good guy” only to avoid Devlin from later claiming ineffective legal representation, one of the few possible reasons for appealing his lengthy sentence.

“I think the defense counsel was only concerned about the defense counsel when he said that,” Hanaway said.

Craig Akers, stepfather to Devlin kidnap victim Shawn Hornbeck, said he was surprised by the 170-year sentence.

“We were all shocked – pleasantly surprised,” Akers said.