A federal judge on Friday sentenced the so-called "Barefoot Bandit," Colton Harris-Moore to 6 1/2 years in prison for his infamous two-year, international crime spree which included break-ins, boat thefts, and plane thefts as well.
Harris-Moore was captured in 2010. Earlier, he was sentenced to seven years on state charges. The federal sentence will be served concurrently with the earlier state sentence.
Prior to sentencing by U.S. Judge Richard Jones, Harris-Moore apologized to his victims. He said, "I now know a crime that took place overnight will take years to recover from. What I did could be called daring, but it is no stretch of the imagination to say that am lucky to be alive ... absolutely lucky. I should have died years ago."
Just as Island County Judge Vickie Churchill last month, Judge Jones took into account Harris-Moore life history when sentencing him. Jones said, "The record is clear that you had an incredibly difficult childhood. No one can change that, or give those years back to you. Your lawyers and evaluators say that your past is what made you do wrong. That may very well be true, but the reality is that you committed some very serious crimes that deserve punishment. We look at life in many cases as a card game. You have to accept the hand you're dealt."
Originally from Camano Island, Washington, Colton Harris-Moore was charged with the thefts of small aircraft, a boat, and two cars. In addition, he was charged with the burglaries of at least 100 private residences in various locations around the Pacific Northwest, and not just in the United States, but in Canada, as well.
He eventually fled to the Bahamas (on July 4, 2010), allegedly using a stolen plane, crash landing it. Harris-Moore was arrested in Harbour Island, Bahamas, on July 11, 2010, after police shot out the engine of the boat in which he was attempting to flee.
Colton Harris-Moore was dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit" because he committed several of his crimes barefoot, without shoes (although he was occasionally referred to as the "Barefoot Burglar"). He once left behind 39 chalk footprints and the word "c'ya!" For the most part, authorities said that he more often than not wore shoes during his crimes.
There will be another hearing in a month to decide how much restitution Colton Harris-Moore will be required to pay.
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