The Legend of the Barefoot Bandit Comes to an End

On December 16, 2011, the swashbuckling adventures of Colton Harris-Moore -- Washington's beloved "Barefoot Bandit" -- officially came to an end in Coupeville when Island County Judge Vickie Churchill sentenced him to more than seven years in prison.

Twenty year old Colton pleaded guilty to 16 felonies in Island County and 17 felonies in San Juan County. Having already pleaded guilty to federal charges in Seattle, he will be sentenced in federal court next year. Fox recently bought the movie rights to his story, but Colton will use all the proceeds to pay restitution to his victims.

According to the Associated Press, Colton became a cult hero during a two year crime spree in which he eluded police by stealing boats, planes, guns and cars. He earned the moniker "the Barefoot Bandit" because he often left bare footprints when he fled from his crimes. He burglarized homes and businesses in eight states, Canada and the Bahamas. Colton taught himself to fly by reading manuals and watching online videos. He was arrested in July 2010 after he stole a plane in Indiana, flew it to the Bahamas and crashed it into a swamp.

Before the sentencing, Colton wrote a six page letter to Judge Churchill in which he took full responsibility for his actions. He stated that he "wouldn't wish his childhood on his darkest enemies."

Colton was raised in a debilitated mobile home in Camano Island, Washington by an abusive, alcoholic mother and her convict boyfriends. He has stated that his first memory is of his mother telling him that she wished he was stillborn. Colton has also stated that he first broke into a neighbor's home for food when he was 13 because he was so hungry. His attorney claims that his mother often failed to provide food for him and spent the bulk of her income on alcohol and cigarettes.

According to the Everett Herald, a CPS worker described Colton's childhood home as putrid, filled with dirty clothes, papers and food covered in mold and mildew. Ironically, CPS cut short their investigations due to his mother's lack of cooperation. Is anyone really surprised that CPS let this poor child slip through the cracks?

According to the Los Angeles Times, Colton's mother, Pam Kohler, is angry because defense attorneys have been telling lies about her. "John Henry Browne has to blame all of Colt's problems onto something, so he evidently chose me," Ms. Kohler told KIRO radio in Seattle. "I'm going to destroy him when this is over."

I thought that Ms. Kohler's statement was rather odd because it suggests that she is more concerned about her reputation than her son's welfare. She doesn't seem to realize that her threats only make her look worse. I'm a mother myself. If one of my children was being charged with a multitude of crimes as Colton was, I'd be happy and grateful that my child had a good defense attorney. I certainly would not be threatening to destroy those who were trying to help my child. Good mothers put their children's needs before their own.

I'm not a fan of Pam Kohler, but I can't help but wonder why Colton's teachers, neighbors, and the community of Camano Island did not do more to help this hungry, neglected boy. The moral of the Barefoot Bandit's legend is quite simple. If we don't want hungry children to break into our homes and steal our food, we should be willing to help the less fortunate.