Could Conviction Mean Big Bucks for 'Barefoot Bandit'?

(July 12) -- The capture of 19-year-old Colton Harris-Moore, aka the "Barefoot Bandit," has been making headlines around the world -- and raising a lot of questions. Will he get off with a slap on the wrist? Will his daring escapades inspire copycats? And, perhaps most importantly, might he actually profit from his alleged crimes?

Harris-Moore's attorney, John Henry Browne, shed some light on at least one of those questions while appearing this morning on NBC's "Today" show. He said he would like to see his client's alleged crimes -- which are believed to span at least eight states and two countries -- consolidated in a Seattle federal court.

That would not only save authorities an "administrative nightmare," Browne said, but would also allow Harris-Moore to reach a plea deal with prosecutors. In that case, Browne said, the teen could receive a sentence of four to 12 years.

"If [he] hadn't had so much notoriety, it would probably be much closer to four or even less than that," Browne told NBC.

The Camano Island, Wash., teen is accused of hundreds of burglaries and the theft of several airplanes and a $450,000 yacht, amassing a huge Internet fan following along the way. He earned his nickname by allegedly pulling off his capers while wearing no shoes.

Harris-Moore's capture in the Bahamas on Sunday capped a two-year manhunt, with his downfall coming after he allegedly stole a boat and two witnesses reported him to police. A high-speed pursuit ensued, during which Harris-Moore allegedly held a gun to his head and threatened to end his own life. The chase came to a more peaceful end, however, when authorities shot out the motor on his boat. The suspect was then led away -- shackled and shoeless.

Given Harris-Moore's tally of alleged crimes -- one that would likely impress the most hardened con -- four to 12 years in prison may seem lenient and, according to one expert, highly improbable.

"The fact is, you don't get concurrent time if there are separate crimes," Anne Bremner, a Seattle attorney and legal analyst, said in an interview with AOL News.

"[The defense] can argue that it was all one enterprise, but that is not going to fly with the federal judge," said Bremner, who in her 26-year career has defended prominent professional athletes, judges and doctors. "[Prosecutors] are going say these are all separate -- he went and stole this boat and that boat and this plane and that plane, he broke into this place."

Bremner said it's also unlikely that officials in the Bahamas will agree to any deals.

"They are going to try him first. He has a weapons charge there ... [and] flying into their airspace, possessing a stolen plane in their country," she said. "So he has a big battle to start with in the Bahamas, and right now they [say he is facing] a number of years."

As for possible copycats, Bremner says it could be a concern if Harris-Moore receives a light sentence. Dr. Katherine Ramsland, a professor of forensic psychology from DeSales University in Pennsylvania, agrees.

"Certain adolescents enjoy the romance of being on the run and defying authority, not to mention stealing planes and cars like sexy people in films, so a slap on the wrist for the Barefoot Bandit's exploits would be a certain invitation to copycat -- even outdo -- what he did," Ramsland told AOL News.

"On top of that, the money involved in a book/movie deal and the enormous media coverage he's received thus far makes such an enterprise even more enticing."

The offers are already pouring in. On Sunday, Harris-Moore's mother, Pam Kohler, told AOL News she's received so many requests from movie producers that she's had to hire an "entertainment lawyer."

"I've been getting all kinds of offers, especially today," Kohler said. "I'm not kidding. [I have] four phones, and the batteries are so low I have to hang them up after a little [while]."

(AOL News has also been receiving requests for Kohler's contact information, including one from an individual who claimed to be a producer for Touchstone Pictures.)

"It could be millions" of dollars, Bremner said. "It is absolutely huge. I have this civil case involving Mary Kay Letourneau and there is so much money in that case -- love letters, interviews with Billy, pictures of the children, etc. I mean, they sold their wedding pictures for almost a million dollars."

There is one catch: Washington state has a "Son of Sam" law, which prohibits criminals from profiting from their crimes, Bremner said.

However, there is nothing stopping Kohler from profiting from her son's alleged capers, Bremner added, unless she is found to have some kind of association with them.

During interviews with AOL News, Kohler admitted to having phone conversations with her son, but those alone might not be considered aiding and abetting, Bremner said.

"There is obviously a fine line between simply knowing but remaining silent about the son's activities and/or whereabouts and actively helping him or lying," Bremner said. "I'm not sure of all the facts regarding our bandit's conversations with his mom -- what she said to him, what she did for him, and what, if anything, she told investigators. Nevertheless, these are the factors that would be in play if she were investigated [or] prosecuted."

While there is the possibility that Harris-Moore's family might make a fortune from his story, Bremner said the witnesses who helped capture him in the Bahamas most likely won't be enjoying the $10,000 reward the FBI recently announced for information leading to his arrest.

"Generally an FBI reward is something that would apply within the United States," she said, "and I don't think they're going to give a reward to other authorities."