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'Barefoot Bandit' wants early release to become paid speaker

Colton Harris-Moore asked a judge to end his federal probation early so that he can become a motivational speaker.
Colton Harris-Moore, who gained notoriety as the "Barefoot Bandit" during a two-year crime spree, opened a GoFundMe page Friday with the intention of raising money to pay for flight lessons.

Editor's note: the above interview was published in 2016.

A man dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit" for a series of crimes committed as a teenager is trying to get out of probation early.

Colton Harris-Moore, now 28, asked a U.S. District Court judge in April to end his federal probation four months early so that he can become a motivational speaker.

Seattle U.S. Attorney Brian Moran responded Friday, saying there was no reason to allow Harris-Moore off the hook now, as the probation doesn't prevent him from traveling to such speaking engagements.

Harris-Moore was sentenced in 2012 to seven years in prison for a series of crimes committed barefoot, which began after he escaped from a Renton juvenile halfway house in 2008.

He was ultimately captured after crash-landing a plane that he stole in Indiana and flew to the Bahamas.

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