Bahamas may want first shot at prosecuting Harris-Moore

Now that Colton Harris-Moore has been captured, he must face legal proceedings in the Bahamas and in the U.S.

Among the questions Bahamian officials must answer is whether to charge the Camano Island man, 19, locally or to turn him over immediately to the U.S.

“Since Harris-Moore committed crimes in the Bahamas, it is likely they will seek to prosecute him for those crimes there first,” Emily Langlie, a U.S. Attorney spokeswoman said Sunday.

“We will work with Bahamian authorities to extradite Harris-Moore back to the Western District of Washington, and will work with other jurisdictions in the U.S. regarding charges that may be filed in other states,” she said.

Bahamian officials said Sunday the prisoner would make a court appearance sometime this week.

He’s been charged by complaint in federal court in Seattle, and also faces state charges in Island and San Juan counties, as well as Nebraska.

Prosecutors from the many jurisdictions across eight states where he’s suspected of committing crimes likely will work together to determine the best way to proceed.

Either way, he’ll likely spend the next few days in Fox Hill prison, the only jail in the island commonwealth Bahamas, according the U.S. State Department’s Web site.

“Most prisoners lacked beds, slept on concrete floors, and were locked in small cells 23 hours per day, often with human waste,” according to the State Department. “Maximum-security inmates were allowed outside for exercise four days a week for one hour per day. Inmates complained of inadequate medical care and treatment.”

Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.