Authorities have finally caught the infamous “barefoot bandit” in the Bahamas…but here are 5 reasons why you’ll be buying a good pair of shoes. We all love a good story, and for two years, Colton Harris-Moore told us a great story as he made his way into modern folklore with his Houdini evading the authorities. After avoiding the police for over two years, they finally caught the Barefoot Bandit (yes, he was actually barefoot when he was caught) after a speedboat chase in the Bahamas yesterday.
Although they say that crime does not pay, in this case it is possible. Colton has amassed more than 60,000 Facebook followers in the past two years and it looks like he’ll finally be able to buy himself a nice new pair of shoes. Here are five reasons why:
1. Harris-Moore’s crimes were not violent or serious in nature: While Colton is famous for the grand nature of his thefts — from stealing $600,000 Cessna planes (and piloting them with little aviation experience) to hijacking nearly every vehicle Consumer Reports covers — none of his crimes have been grand in nature. violent. He has not physically harmed any of his victims. This has greatly helped fuel the tradition of him. In the end, Colton faces a host of burglary, larceny, larceny, and evasion charges (Nebraska has issued a warrant for his arrest). However, his theft of boats, cars and small planes keeps him out of the league of the world’s criminals who eat liver with some beans and a good Chianti.
Colton’s list of recent alleged crimes includes the following:
June 1: Astoria, Oregon: Boat and car robbery
June 9: McMinnville, Oregon – car stolen
June 10: Ontario, Oregon – car stolen
June 18 – Yankton, South Dakota – Stolen car, allegedly broke into house, ate and showered, owner caught, Colton escaped
June 20: Norfolk, Nebraska – Colton caught on surveillance tape, police say he stole another car and committed multiple burglaries, including a restaurant and airport robbery.
June 24 – City of Dallas, Illinois – Police recover a car believed to have been stolen by Colton
Late June – Danville, Illinois – Police report Colton stole because he later drove to Bloomington, Indiana
July 4 – Colton is believed to have stolen a Cessna Corvalis from the Monroe County Airport and crashed off the coast of Abaco
July 5-7: The search for Colton Harris-Moore continues in the Bahamas. Includes FBI and Bahamian Police
2. Harris-Moore had a difficult childhood: By all accounts, Colton had a miserable childhood. The product of an alcoholic mother and father, Colton became an adept outdoorsman, spending much of his time in the woods north of Seattle on Pugust Sound. His mother has often emphasized how difficult his childhood has been over the years, and in fact, Colton’s spree began with him escaping after sneaking out of a juvenile detention center window. more than two years ago. Any judge or jury will surely take this into consideration.
3. Even Some of Harris-Moore’s “Victims” Are Supporting Harris-Moore: After Colton stole his $600,000 Cesna from John Miller, people urged him to Google the “barefoot bandit”…and he did. Friends told Miller to Google Barefoot Bandit. “And there’s this baby face of a little boy who looks like he’s 12 years old.” Miller said that he began to soften. He read that Colton had had a difficult life, with an alcoholic mother and father. He is still angry, but also wonders how the boy managed it. Bottom line… if Miller’s own victims go soft on the kid, chances are the judge or jury will too.
4. Harris-Moore already has well-known competent legal counsel: It wasn’t long after his arrest before the Barefoot Bandit had a well-known and competent entertainment lawyer at his side. Who needs a good retainer to drop by when the publicity this case will get is all O. Yale Lewis (a Seattle entertainment attorney who has represented the likes of Courtney Love and the family of Jimi Hendrix) will have to dive headfirst into this case . Fear not, as it looks like Bandit is in good hands with defending him.
5. Let the entertainment offers begin to flow: Part of the reason Harris-Moore’s mom got O. Yale Lewis is because the entertainment deals are already flowing in. Colton’s mother, Pamela Kohler, says she needs a lawyer to handle her “entertainment” interests, and said she is working on a book deal about her son. Given Colton’s popularity, the book deal is just a springboard for bigger deals, interviews and probably a movie about his exploits.
In the end, telling his unique story to the right people will finally get the Barefoot Bandit a good pair of shoes.