It’s the perfect movie. A barely schooled, shoeless teenager dodges
police as he races across the country stealing cars and airplanes
before finally being caught in a high-speed boat chase.
The kid’s mom has already hired a well-known entertainment lawyer
who says he is being swamped by unsolicited offers. You can
almost hear the cash registers ringing.
Nineteen-year-old Colton Harris-Moore was arrested in the
Bahamas a week after he reportedly crash-landed there in a plane
stolen July 4 from an Indiana airport. The teenager made initial court
appearances in Florida last week before heading back to Seattle,
where he faces a federal charge in the crash-landing of a plane
stolen from Idaho last year.
The self-taught pilot is suspected in more than 70 crimes across
nine states since he walked away from a halfway house in April
2008, and he still has two years left on the sentence he walked away
from in 2008.
Some prosecutors have expressed interest in negotiating a “global”
plea deal to resolve all or most of the charges.
But here’s the thing. There is no way that the teenager or his mother
should cash that first check.
After all, if it turns out there’s a fortune to be made by having your kid
take off on a cross-country crime spree, what’s to stop the next
enterprising parent and child from trying to do the Barefoot Bandit
one better?
If they do nothing else, prosecutors must send a clear message that
while crime might well be a way to achieve fame, it is not the path to
fortune. And they should make sure that any profit to be made from
the bandit’s exploits goes to his victims, the people whose planes
and cars and boats he’s accused of stealing.
They could follow the example set by prosecutors in the case of
“American Taliban” John Walker Lindh, who pleaded guilty in 2002
to supplying support for the Taliban in exchange for a 20-year
sentence. As part of his plea, Lindh agreed that any profits from
publicity deals would be turned over to the U.S. government, and he
pledged not to communicate with relatives or associates to help
them profit from his story.
Similar language should be part of any plea bargains negotiated in
the case of the Barefoot Bandit.
Editorials
Prosecutors should send a clear message
- Editorials
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A positive step for public schools
Indiana is one of 10 states granted waivers last week from provisions of the federal No Child Left Behind law. The waiver appears to be a step forward for schools across the state.
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An outstanding community effort
United Way of Cass County announced this week that it had raised more than $600,000 in its most recent campaign. The campaign’s success is a testament to the generosity of local residents and to the great work of the United Way and its member agencies.
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Another step forward for local trails
Local officials broke ground this week on the planned Eel River Run from downtown to Riverside Park. The project will expand a trail system of which the community can be proud.
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White should not return to office
The conviction of Indiana’s secretary of state on charges of voter fraud has left Republicans and Democrats fighting over who will hold the office. No matter how the fight comes out, Charlie White’s ouster from office should be permanent.
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A grand success for Indianapolis
The just-ended Super Bowl was the result of decades of preparation. Indianapolis left a great impression on the thousands of visitors who descended on the city.
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Should schools teach creationism?
The Indiana General Assembly is considering a measure that would allow public schools to teach creationism as long as they include instruction on other reliigious theories. Broadening the instruction to include other religions might address constitutional concerns, but the result might be a class the law’s supporters didn’t envision.
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Giving every child a chance
Students from Columbia Middle School delivered a message of inclusion in a play last weekend. The message is one that can’t be repeated too often.
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Testing lawmakers a good idea
A measure requiring drug testing for welfare recipients would also require drug testing for legislators. If lawmakers are going to impose such a requirement on welfare recipients, they should be willing to stand up to the same measure.
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Peru delivers important message
The city of Peru collected $20,000 last year from property owners who failed to keep their yards mowed. An aggressive enforcement effort can help the city’s finances, but the benefits go beyond dollars and cents.
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Jail GED program a great step
The issue
The Cass County Sheriff’s Department has begun offering GED
classes for its prisoners.
Our view
The department, and society at large, will see a huge return on that
investment. - More Editorials Headlines
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A positive step for public schools
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