'Barefoot Bandit' pleads guilty; movie on life story in the offing
Colton Harris-Moore, the bare-foot bandit, thief and burglar whose notoriety will be soon seen on celluloid, has pleaded guilty to seven federal felonies and will serve up to six and a half years in prison.
The 20 year-old-felon’s two year crime spree from 2008 onwards involves the theft of two planes and a boat and possession of illegal firearms. Along with these federal charges he faces 30 theft and burglary cases in four counties which may add to his prison term.
The 28-page plea agreement indicates that Harris-Moore and his lawyers are in talks to sell his life story to be made into a movie. The government, on its part, is hopeful of a successful negotiation, so it can use the money as restitution payment. Harris-Moore owes the government nearly $1.5 million, claim the prosecutors. According to the agreement, any proceeds from Harris-Moore's story will go to his many victims.
Colton’s crime life seems to reflect Leonardo DeCaprio’s in the movie, Catch Me If You Can. It was reported earlier by Variety that Fox was interested in his crime-spree story. Writer Bob Friel has written a book, The Ballad of Colton, based on Harris-Moore’s exploits.
Harris-Moore’s list of federal charges include bank burglary; interstate transportation of an aircraft; interstate and foreign transportation of a stolen firearm; being a fugitive in possession of a firearm; piloting an aircraft without a valid airman's certificate; interstate transportation of a stolen vessel; and interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft.
Sentencing is set for October 28 before US District Judge Richard Jones.
Colton Harris-Moore was caught last year in the Bahamas after he crash-landed a stolen plane there. Since then he has been in solitary confinement at the Federal Detention Centre.
Named ‘Barefoot Bandit’ because of bare footprints found near his crime scenes, the internet and a facebook page turned Harris-Moore into a kind of cult hero.
This has further frustrated the prosecutors who say that there is nothing hero like in his actions. Jenny Durkan, U.S. attorney for Western Washington said,
There is nothing in his acts to be admired, and nothing should be glorified, according to news reports. She added that real people were hurt by his actions and suffered losses. Colton’s attorney contends his actions as “youthful mistakes” which he regrets.
Speculations are already rife in the social media circuits about the likely contenders for the role of Harris-Moore on celluloid. Some of the names mentioned are: Cory Monteith, Emile Hirsch, Liam Hemsworth, Robert Pattison and Zach Gilford.
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