July 13th, 2010
01:43 PM ET

'Barefoot bandit' pleads guilty to charge of illegal landing

[Updated at 1:39 p.m.]

The so-called "barefoot bandit," Colton Harris-Moore, pleaded guilty in
a Bahamian court Tuesday to a charge of illegally landing a plane, and was sentenced to three months in jail or a $300 fine, police said.

A deportation order was also entered, said police spokeswoman Sgt.
Chrislyn Skippings.

[Posted at 11:43 a.m.] A teenage fugitive known as the "barefoot bandit" was set to be
arraigned Tuesday before the Bahamas chief magistrate on a variety of charges, authorities said.

Colton Harris-Moore, 19, faces charges including a weapons charge, said Royal Bahamas Police Force spokeswoman Sgt. Chrislyn Skippings. She said she was awaiting court documents to find out the specific charges.

Harris-Moore is set to appear at 12 p.m. ET before Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez. At that hearing, the charges against him will be read, Skippings said.

Harris-Moore was taken into custody on Harbour Island in the Bahamas
early Sunday. He is sought in a string of home and airport break-ins along with thefts of vehicles. He faces charges in Washington state in the theft of an aircraft, and police have said they believe he stole a plane in Indiana and flew it to the Bahamas, where it was found off Abaco Island.

The teen has been on the run since he escaped from a juvenile halfway house in Renton, Washington, in 2008. The FBI had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

"At this point, we're not aware of any requests from the U.S. government or any government for extradition of the young man," said Quincy Parker, spokesman for the Bahamas embassy in Washington. Such a request must be made, he said. "That's how it works. It's not a matter of police force to police force."

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Filed under: Barefoot Bandit • Crime
soundoff (12 Responses)
  1. Darby

    Colton's fans need quit wading in the shallow end of the gene pool. Bonnie & Clyde looked like heroes to a few misguided souls. Not to the people they robbed or murdered. Oh, and you might want to Google them to see how their folk hero lives ended.

    July 13, 2010 at 3:23 pm | Report abuse |
    • mark

      This guy may be a criminal and an idiot but as far as i know he hasn't killed anyone. Don't you think it might be a little harsh to compare him to Bonnie and Cyde?

      July 13, 2010 at 4:59 pm | Report abuse |
    • Pat

      Darby you are so correct. What else can a person say in response to this story other than a gigantic "Duh!"

      July 14, 2010 at 9:08 am | Report abuse |
    • Eric

      I must agree with your comment... anybody who sees this guy as a folk hero is incredibly mis-guided. Look to your mothers and fathers as the true heros... Politicians, sports figures...and idiots like this are looking for their 15 seconds of fame and a way to make money from people who follow them. Put him in the slammer...throw away the key... he got his 15 seconds.... move on.

      July 15, 2010 at 7:04 am | Report abuse |
  2. Smith in Oregon

    Undoubtedly wicked and very corrupt prison officials and Sheriff's will physically and mentally abuse Colton on a daily basis. Colton will likely emerge from prison a scattered, broken man with various medical problems.

    July 13, 2010 at 10:11 pm | Report abuse |
    • Makdune

      We can only hope.

      July 14, 2010 at 10:21 am | Report abuse |
    • OARFNY

      You appear to be dumb enough to be a family member.

      July 15, 2010 at 4:43 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Pat

    In listening to the comments of the "barefoot bandits" mother I would have to summarize that the fruit does not fall far from the tree. She sounds like an idiot on her press releases and he is clearly an idiot despite his so-called "self-taught" skills. Just think of what he could contribute to society if he had elected to channel his supposed intelligence in a postiive manner but then again he would have likely required at least one parent to direct him in that manner as a young child. Sadly it would appear that was lacking.

    July 14, 2010 at 9:07 am | Report abuse |
  4. lucy

    I think that his mother should pay time for encouraging his behavior. It really is sad that this young man is paying for his parents choices. He needs someone to accept him, make him pay for his behavior–needs to be held accountable for his actions. But he doesn't need someone/court system to continue to abuse and destroy him. God help the courts do what is right.

    July 14, 2010 at 6:19 pm | Report abuse |
  5. diaryofamisEducatedblackman

    jeez what a story, definetely dont see this everyday, http://www.diaryofamiseducatedblackman.com

    July 15, 2010 at 12:09 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Zander

    What kind of shoes did this guy wear?

    July 15, 2010 at 1:57 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Jack

    Everyone who cheers him on, thats all well and good enough you become one of his victims. Then you will be the first one in line to see him fry

    July 17, 2010 at 3:10 pm | Report abuse |
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