Barefoot Bandit Seeks Flight-Training Funds

Colton Harris-Moore, whose two-year teenage crime spree included the theft of several small airplanes -- which he had taught himself to fly from manuals and videos -- pled guilty in 2011 to 33 counts of burglary and theft, and now has served his sentence and is seeking funds through GoFundMe to start his legitimate flying career. "Something that I think should be said right out of the gate is that, this is not a sad story," Harris-Moore writes at the GoFundMe site."This is about airplanes!" Now 25 and living in Seattle, Harris-Moore says he has "tried to keep a low profile" since his release from prison in September, but feels the time is right to pursue his dream of a flying career. "Believe me, I love airplanes, but I will never steal one or break the law again," he writes.

Harris-Moore breaks down the amounts he will need to get all his ratings at local flight schools, from private pilot to commercial, instrument, and CFI, in both airplanes and helicopters, and comes up with $125,496. He said he hopes to raise the money quickly so he can start training and get a job as soon as he is done. He expects the training will take several months, and then he'll apply for a job as a helicopter medevac pilot. Harris-Moore paid restitution to the victims of his crimes after selling movie rights to Sony, according to Seattle's King5 news station.

By the end of the day, however, the fundraising effort had been put on hold. "Well, I guess I spoke too soon," Harris-Moore posted in an update at the GoFundMe site. "They requested that I PAUSE donations until they can approve the GoFundMe. So, that's what I have done. It may take a week or two for them to approve this, so please be patient! Remember I am still on probation and still have to jump through the hoops! I'll do whatever it takes!" $1,575 was raised from 32 donors before the hold took effect.