.
I've just left a small Bahamian courtroom that Colton was led to in shackles. There were six or eight American reporters and about an equal number of Bahamian observers in the small room. Part of Colt's shackles were undone when he was put into the dock. He kept his eyes down until we were all told to stand for the judge's arrival.
The charges were read by an immigration official: Entering the Bahamas illegally, without proper passport.
Colt was aked to stand. He stood tall and looked straight at the judge. He was asked how he plead to the charge. Colt said in a deep, calm voice, "Guilty."
A barrister then reported to the judge that Colton said that he swam to the Bahamas, that he didn't have his passport and that he plead guilty to save the court the time and expense of a trial.
Colt stood as the judge read his sentence for the immigration offense: $300 or three months in prison. The judge then overrode that by recommending "immediate deportation."
Everyone stood as court was dismissed. Colt finally looked around, saw me and recognized me, and gave me a big smile.
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Have you met Colt in person before today? If so when/where?
ReplyDeleteIt must have felt great for him to see a familiar, friendly face. I'm curious, how did he recognize you?
ReplyDeleteNo, I have never met Colt in person. He knew my face... He's read this blog, so probably from my picture. But he's also spent a lot of time on Orcas Island, where I live... Every one of us on Orcas have, at times, felt like Colt was around, maybe watching.
ReplyDeleteMr. Friel: Bob Rivers said that you are going to be on his show tomorrow morning. Do you know what time?
ReplyDeleteI'll be talking to Bob Rivers, Seattle radio personality and owner of the very first plane that police believe Colton took, tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
ReplyDeleteWell that's a relief! Glad he's not being thrown into the Bahaman prison system!
ReplyDeleteI hope you or somebody helps this kid get his life together. He's obviously bright, smart, intelligent and creative. Although he must have had fun and excitement during his adventures and exploits, it seems like he's been acting out as a plea for help for years and no one has been there for him in a substantive and continuous fashion. What a shame and waste. Thanks for your story in Outside and your updates.
ReplyDeleteBob, I have been captivated by Colton's story over the past couple of weeks and couldn't stop reading your blog this afternoon. Your posts are thoughtful and insightful and make for great reading.
ReplyDeleteI know you haven't met Colton yet but you must feel like you know him to a certain degree. And now that he's been caught, you may have the opportunity to meet him sometime soon to hear his story. I would be interested to hear your thoughts on what you anticipate the initial meeting will be like.
Thank you again for great reporting and storytelling.
Mr. Friel,
ReplyDeleteI just heard your interview on the Bob Rivers show. One of the questions they asked was "Are you going to write this book with a biased tone." I actually hope you do.
I'd prefer if it was written a bit like the way Jon Krakauer wrote Into the Wild. Stick to the facts, but also inject some personal emotions/stories now and then.
A straightforward "just give me the facts" book will read like a police report.
Colton says he's going to change his ways...
ReplyDeleteMIAMI (AFP) - The teenage fugitive burglar dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit," due here for an arraignment after being deported from the Bahamas, is ready to turn away from his life of crime, his attorney said Wednesday.
"He says that if he had come from a stable home he may not have done the things he did," Bahamian attorney Monique Gomez told ABC television's "Good Morning America" program. "He said to me he intends to change his life."
Bob...yes, thanks for being there. Your face undoubtedly gave him a flash of hope. It would be great if those that will determine his fate will have as required reading your Outside article revealing his homelife, early years. Surely there can be some type of alternative sentencing combining community service and education into his incarceration.
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between biased and personal. The reason the publisher gave me the book contract was the personal connections I have with this story.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll be amazed at the parralels and connections between my life and Colt's. In Into the Wild, Jon Krakauer was able to draw on his own experiences as a young man to find an understanding of Chris Mccandless' character and his actions, and I will do the same in my book about Colton because I am able to empathize with him profoundly -- just as I can empathize with his victims.
Anybody could do a "just the facts" book on this story, but no one else has the connections -- and not only the geographical connections of living on Orcas during all of this and knowing the Bahamas so well -- but all of the other elements that I'll be writing about.
Lysol, did you read Bob's article in Outside? I don't think he'll write a completely unbiased, dry "police report"! :)
ReplyDeleteCorey, I'm with you. This kid really needs an advocate. I'm ready to adopt him!
Kate: I did read it, but in the radio interview, he never got around to answering the question. The radio hosts were asking 2 or 3 questions at a time, it was an "all over the map" type of interview. I just wanted a little more clarification on what to expect when this thing finally gets published.
ReplyDeleteMr. Friel: Thanks for the reply. This book is going to be a runaway best seller. I'd pre-order it on amazon.com today if I could.
Corey & Kate: A couple good quotes came out of the "Today" interview of Monique Gomez(his Bahamian lawyer)
"He says that if he had come from a stable home he may not have done the things he did."
"He said to me he intends to change his life."
These statements back up your points.
Bob, I love how you are reporting this story and look forward to continuing to read your blog (and book, whenever it comes out).
ReplyDeleteI know you said you haven't met Colton yet, but you must feel like you know him. I suppose you will also eventually have the opportunity to sit down and talk to him (maybe soon). I just wonder what that first encounter will be like? I would love to hear how you imagine the first meeting will be, versus what it is really like. I hope you share this in a future blog post or in your book.
Thank you again for the great reporting and storytelling.
bob, does it seem to you like an incredible coincidence that colton shows up in the bahamas when you're there? or that he recognizes you as someone familiar? i live on camano a couple miles from his home and i doubt he would recognize me. small world?
ReplyDeleteThat's a little backwards: I knew Colt was in the Bahamas, so I went there. It wasn't like we had agreed to meet up for a snorkeling trip.
ReplyDeleteI found out he was in the Bahamas from news reports just like everyone else. Then a bunch of media flew down to the island where the plane was found. However, I got a call from a buddy who told me Colton had probably gone to another island. So I went there and showed up just hours before the big final scene, and was the first one at the location when it was over and got to talk to many of the people involved.
Hooray for "insider information!" ;)
ReplyDelete@ Anon. 1:03: Bob is being gracious by not telling you this himself, but if you take the time to read his previous posts, you will learn that he has been to the islands many, many times and has friends there. It was simply a matter of opportunity meeting knowledge, two things helpful when one is a journalist.