Will Serve Time In Washington State, Where His Crime Spree Began

Colton Harris-Moore, who became known as "The Barefoot Bandit," has been sentenced to over seven years in prison for his two-year crime spree which ended after he ditched a stolen Cessna Corvalis in the ocean off the coast of Abaco in the Bahamas.

Harris-Moore pleaded guilty to dozens of charges stemming from his run from authorities which began in Washington state ... involved at least five stolen airplanes ... and ended after he ditched the last one in the Bahamas. He was apprehended by Bahamian authorities and extradited back to the U.S. for trial.

The Washington Examiner reports that the judge said she took into account Harris-Moore's childhood spent with an alcoholic mother and a string of "convict boyfriends" when determining the sentence. Judge Vickie Churchill called his story "a tragedy in many ways," but also "a triumph of human spirit in other ways."

Harris-Moore reportedly has been offered a movie deal, the proceeds from which will be used to make restitution to his victims. He was reportedly apologetic for his crimes, and in a letter to the judge said he took full responsibility his actions.

Harris-Moore faced a maximum sentence of 10 years.

FMI: http://www.islandcounty.net/superiorcourt/