‘Barefoot Bandit’ Facing New Charges From Plane Theft

The Barefoot Bandit is facing new charges from his 2010 plane theft, which was part of a crime spree that took him from Washington State to the Bahamas.

The Bandit, Colton Harris-Moore, will face new charges in the Anacortes theft after the Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office refiled their charges against him.

The office initially dropped the charges against Harris-Moore in order “to let the other counties deal with what they were dealing with” as part of the massive plea negotiations, reports The Seattle Times.

The plea negotiations ended when Harris-Moore pleaded guilty to more than 40 felonies and was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, followed by three years of probation.

The prosecutor’s office has re-charged the Barefoot Bandit with first-degree theft and second-degree burglary in relation to the airplane theft. The bandit was arrested in the Bahamas in July 2010. Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weyrich has not said why the office has decided to refile the charges against Colton Harris-Moore.

The Barefoot Bandit’s attorney, John Henry Browne, learned of the new charges against his client on Wednesday, notes ABC News. He commented:

“All the other prosecutors tried to get Weyrich to come along with the plea deal. They all thought the sentence was fine, but I guess it’s not OK with Mr. Weyrich. I thought Colton Harris-Moore was supposed to be the juvenile here.”

Browne also said that Weyrich deprived Harris-Moore’s victims in Skagit County of restitution when he refused to participate in the plea deal. Along with his prison sentence and probation period, Colton also sold the rights to his story to 20th Century Fox.

The proceeds will go toward repaying the almost $1.4 million owed to his victims. The Anacortes plane stolen from Jeff and Linda Hendricks sustained little damage from the incident.

Are you surprised to hear more charges have been filed against the Barefoot Bandit Colton Harris-Moore?