'Barefoot Bandit' to change not guilty plea by CNN Wire Staff June 17, 2011

Colton Harris-Moore, also known as the "Barefoot Bandit," is expected to plead guilty to charges stemming from his 2-year run from authorities.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Colton Harris-Moore pleaded not guilty to several federal charges last week
• Lawyer: A draft of plea agreement was being worked on last week
• Harris-Moore is accused of stealing boats, cars, and planes while eluding police
• A possible book and movie deals are in the works

(CNN) -- Colton Harris-Moore, whom authorities have dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit," will be in a Seattle courtroom Friday to change the not guilty plea he entered earlier.

The alleged "Barefoot Bandit" entered a not guilty plea during a federal court appearance June 9.
At the time, a lawyer representing him said attorneys were working on the details of a plea agreement.
Harris-Moore gained notoriety and earned his nickname for allegedly leading police on a two-year manhunt while eluding capture in stolen boats, cars and planes -- usually while barefoot.

In May, a federal judge added bank robbery to an indictment that contains several other federal charges stemming from Harris-Moore's capture in the Bahamas last year. Four of the charges are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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His attorney, John Henry Browne, told reporters a draft of a plea agreement was close to being finished last week.

The negotiations included his client paying money for restitution, Browne said. The amount would likely be about $1.3 million, Browne said.

Browne stressed that his 20-year-old client wants any money generated from a likely book or movie deals to go to the victims.

"There's a lot of interest, there's active negotiations," Browne said. "He really doesn't want publicity, but regardless of whether Colton cooperates or not, there is going to be a movie made about (him), there will be other books written about him. That's going to happen no matter what."

As the "Barefoot Bandit," Harris-Moore garnered a loyal and outspoken fan base on Facebook -- at one point amassing more than 50,000 fans.

He was arrested in July 2010 after allegedly crashing a stolen plane in the Bahamas and then trying to escape on a stolen boat. He'd been on the run from police since escaping from a Washington group home in 2008.

His trial is scheduled to begin July 11.

CNN