"Barefoot Bandit" Gets 6.5 Years Of Federal Time.SEATTLE (AP) - After a trip of two years against international crime in which he survived a few crash landings, Colton Harris-Moore _ the famous "Barefoot Bandit" _ says he is lucky to living being.
Harris-Moore has spoken publicly in court Friday for the first time since his arrest in 2010. A little later he was sentenced to 6 1 / 2 years in federal prison, to be served concurrently with a sentence of state prison.
"What I have been called bold, but there is not much imagination to say that I am lucky to be living ... absolutely lucky," he said. "I should have died years ago."
He has apologized for stealing planes, saying his arrogance led him to keep alive his dream of flying.
But Harris-Moore, once a gangly teenager, was more than just a self-taught pilot.
It hopscotched its way across the United States, authorities said. He flew a plane flew into the north-west of Washington to the San Juan Islands, stole a gun in British Columbia and took a plane from Idaho to Washington State, stole a boat in southwest Washington to go to Oregon and took a plane in Indiana and flew to the Bahamas, where he was arrested.
The 20-year-old got his nickname because he had committed several crimes without wearing shoes, and drew fans across the country for its ability to evade police.
Condemnation of Friday, but ends all of his exploits, providing the details for a film that one entertainment lawyer and federal prosecutors said 20th Century Fox in the works.
But far from a star jubilant, Harris-Moore apologized Friday for his victims.
"I know now a crime that took place during the night will take years to recover from," he told the court.
Defense attorney John Henry Browne said he expects Harris-Moore to be released from prison after 4 1 / 2 years, accounting for 18 months he has been in police custody view. Federal prosecutors declined to comment on how long it could be used, saying that will be in place at the Bureau of Prisons.
Outside the court, the mother of Harris-Moore, Pam Kohler of Camano Island, said his son gave him a letter to the court, but she refused to speak to journalists. She used her handbag to hit a microphone and a TV crew from the camera and the camera of a photographer of the newspaper.
In court, U.S. District Judge Richard Jones, Harris-Moore asked to speak to young people who can look up to him because of his exploits.
"I would say to young people that they should focus on their education, which is what I do now," he said. "I want to start a business. I want to make a difference in this world, legally. "
Before sentencing, defense lawyers told federal prosecutors released cherry-picked excerpts from e-mails in an effort to make Harris-Moore appear insensitive and self-expanding.
He called the county sheriff of the island "the king pig," prosecutors called "crazy", and referred to journalists as "vermin." He also described his exploits _ fly and fly planes without any formal training _ "astonishing" and said they were unmatched by anyone but the Wright brothers.
But lawyers for Harris-Moore claim the full emails show he is sorry for what he has done and grateful for the treatment he received from a state judge who called his case a "triumph of the human spirit. "The state judge last month sentenced to seven years, at the low end of the sentencing range.
The lawyers acknowledged that in some cases, he boasted, but they said these writings were simply the product of an impulsive teenager and do not reflect true remorse.
Harris-Moore apologized for the e-mails in court Friday.
Federal prosecutors had asked Jones to impose a sentence of 6 1 / 2 years to be served, while Harris-Moore is the time of the state. His lawyers had asked a federal sentence of just under six years.
The judge acknowledged that Harris-Moore had a difficult childhood, with "the total lack of parental guidance" and alcohol and drugs from his parents. But he said he was concerned that his previous court appearance has not had an impact on him.
Jones acknowledged that Harris-Moore committed his crimes in early survival after fleeing their homes. But he said "most federal offenses were committed for a reason. To answer your passion for flying to all the costs and consequences "
The judge encouraged Harris-Moore to get treatment in prison.
"The most important day in your life is what you do when you're out. It is up to you to create a new flight plan," said Jones.
Defense lawyers of Harris-Moore said the treatment was already underway.
There will be another hearing in a month to decide how much restitution Harris-Moore will be required to pay.
Federal Attorney Darwin Roberts said he does not expect the business of film to provide enough money to cover the estimated $ 1.3 million in restitution.
Entertainment attorney Lance Rosen said outside the courtroom Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black _ who wrote "Milk" and the recent "J. Edgar" _ met with Harris-Moore several times and turned in a draft script.
One of the victims of Harris-Moore, Kelly Kneifl, made the trip from Yankton to speak to the effort. Harris-Moore broke into the house while he Kneifl and his family were on vacation.
Kneifl said simply glimpsed Harris-Moore naked and wanted to escape to get some closure by watching him jailed.
"I have empathy for him. ... I hope he can get on track, one day, "said Kneifl.
Harris-Moore has spoken publicly in court Friday for the first time since his arrest in 2010. A little later he was sentenced to 6 1 / 2 years in federal prison, to be served concurrently with a sentence of state prison.
"What I have been called bold, but there is not much imagination to say that I am lucky to be living ... absolutely lucky," he said. "I should have died years ago."
He has apologized for stealing planes, saying his arrogance led him to keep alive his dream of flying.
But Harris-Moore, once a gangly teenager, was more than just a self-taught pilot.
It hopscotched its way across the United States, authorities said. He flew a plane flew into the north-west of Washington to the San Juan Islands, stole a gun in British Columbia and took a plane from Idaho to Washington State, stole a boat in southwest Washington to go to Oregon and took a plane in Indiana and flew to the Bahamas, where he was arrested.
The 20-year-old got his nickname because he had committed several crimes without wearing shoes, and drew fans across the country for its ability to evade police.
Condemnation of Friday, but ends all of his exploits, providing the details for a film that one entertainment lawyer and federal prosecutors said 20th Century Fox in the works.
But far from a star jubilant, Harris-Moore apologized Friday for his victims.
"I know now a crime that took place during the night will take years to recover from," he told the court.
Defense attorney John Henry Browne said he expects Harris-Moore to be released from prison after 4 1 / 2 years, accounting for 18 months he has been in police custody view. Federal prosecutors declined to comment on how long it could be used, saying that will be in place at the Bureau of Prisons.
Outside the court, the mother of Harris-Moore, Pam Kohler of Camano Island, said his son gave him a letter to the court, but she refused to speak to journalists. She used her handbag to hit a microphone and a TV crew from the camera and the camera of a photographer of the newspaper.
In court, U.S. District Judge Richard Jones, Harris-Moore asked to speak to young people who can look up to him because of his exploits.
"I would say to young people that they should focus on their education, which is what I do now," he said. "I want to start a business. I want to make a difference in this world, legally. "
Before sentencing, defense lawyers told federal prosecutors released cherry-picked excerpts from e-mails in an effort to make Harris-Moore appear insensitive and self-expanding.
He called the county sheriff of the island "the king pig," prosecutors called "crazy", and referred to journalists as "vermin." He also described his exploits _ fly and fly planes without any formal training _ "astonishing" and said they were unmatched by anyone but the Wright brothers.
But lawyers for Harris-Moore claim the full emails show he is sorry for what he has done and grateful for the treatment he received from a state judge who called his case a "triumph of the human spirit. "The state judge last month sentenced to seven years, at the low end of the sentencing range.
The lawyers acknowledged that in some cases, he boasted, but they said these writings were simply the product of an impulsive teenager and do not reflect true remorse.
Harris-Moore apologized for the e-mails in court Friday.
Federal prosecutors had asked Jones to impose a sentence of 6 1 / 2 years to be served, while Harris-Moore is the time of the state. His lawyers had asked a federal sentence of just under six years.
The judge acknowledged that Harris-Moore had a difficult childhood, with "the total lack of parental guidance" and alcohol and drugs from his parents. But he said he was concerned that his previous court appearance has not had an impact on him.
Jones acknowledged that Harris-Moore committed his crimes in early survival after fleeing their homes. But he said "most federal offenses were committed for a reason. To answer your passion for flying to all the costs and consequences "
The judge encouraged Harris-Moore to get treatment in prison.
"The most important day in your life is what you do when you're out. It is up to you to create a new flight plan," said Jones.
Defense lawyers of Harris-Moore said the treatment was already underway.
There will be another hearing in a month to decide how much restitution Harris-Moore will be required to pay.
Federal Attorney Darwin Roberts said he does not expect the business of film to provide enough money to cover the estimated $ 1.3 million in restitution.
Entertainment attorney Lance Rosen said outside the courtroom Oscar winner Dustin Lance Black _ who wrote "Milk" and the recent "J. Edgar" _ met with Harris-Moore several times and turned in a draft script.
One of the victims of Harris-Moore, Kelly Kneifl, made the trip from Yankton to speak to the effort. Harris-Moore broke into the house while he Kneifl and his family were on vacation.
Kneifl said simply glimpsed Harris-Moore naked and wanted to escape to get some closure by watching him jailed.
"I have empathy for him. ... I hope he can get on track, one day, "said Kneifl.
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