Just a note: "begged him to contact KOMO news" - don't you think the word is a little strong? If he was that desperate to make contact, he would have, you know, sent a letter.

So true. Some people will be out for blood no matter what. But I don't worry about Colton. It will be a couple of tough years, but once they're done, they're done.

Seems like many of you enjoy the idea of Colton suffering as much as possible. But if you believe that 10 years in prison will be more likely to rehabilitate him, more likely to deter him from committing any future crimes than the opportunity of getting an education and be mentored by positive role models instead of hardened criminals... The fact that so many people think that a long incarceration is the solution when it comes to non-violent burglars like Colton, is one of the reason the justice system is the mess it is right now.

I know that many victims still feel hurt by the actions he committed as a teen. Don't worry, he will do his time, pay back restitution, and do his best to earn the forgiveness of the people he hurt. Isn't that enough? Are you able to move on? Yes, he burglarized your home, stole your laptop or drove your car. I don't want to minimize your pain, but really, do you still have nightmares about it? Will you suffer from lifelong PTST? Now think about Colton, what he tried to run away from his whole life, and the hell he's going through right now. If you are unable to feel any kind of compassion, then I don't know what to say - except that going through life with a heart made of wood is the worst curse I can think of. So I pity you.

As of lot of people can tell, he's extremely smart and resilient, but that means nothing if your soul is dark to begin with. That's not the case with Colton. I know how much he values every last scrap of privacy he can still hold on to, and I admire his dignity when it comes to the media, but sometimes I just wish people would know what makes him so worthy of our support. Wish they knew about his kindness, loyalty, insight, unwavering optimism, gratitude over the smallest things, and depth of thought. And I'm not talking as a fan, just as a person whose life has been enriched by his friendship.

Oh, and that terrible picture of him in the woods has to go. Come on.