Prosecutors aim to ban ‘Bandit’ from profiting

Sun., May 29, 2011

Jennifer Sullivan Seattle Times

SEATTLE – With Colton Harris-Moore purportedly prepared to plead guilty to numerous criminal charges, federal prosecutors have taken the rare step of trying to prevent the “Barefoot Bandit” from cashing in on his story.

In an indictment filed last week in U.S. District Court in Seattle, prosecutors assert the 20-year-old should be required to forfeit “any profits or proceeds received in connection with any publication or dissemination of information” relating to his alleged crime spree. The same indictment also charged Harris-Moore with a new crime: a September 2009 bank burglary on Orcas Island.

Movie and book deals already have been discussed with Harris-Moore, who gained international notoriety during an alleged crime spree, which reportedly included teaching himself to fly so he could take private planes, before being captured in the Bahamas last year, his lawyer John Henry Browne said on Friday.

Federal prosecutors called Harris-Moore’s story “intellectual property.”

Browne said that his client already has agreed to turn over any money he might earn from his exploits to pay $1.3 million prosecutors say he owes in restitution.

Harris-Moore, he said, wants to give any other money generated to charity.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.