'Balloon boy' parents plead guilty in Colorado court

[Peikko 1,575]

The Colorado parents accused of pulling a spectacular hoax by reporting their son was aboard a runaway balloon have pleaded guilty to charges that could bring some jail time and probation.

Richard Heene pleaded guilty to knowingly and falsely influencing Larimer county sheriff Jim Alderden, a felony. Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to knowingly filing a false report with emergency services, a misdemeanour.

Richard Heene told judge Stephen Schapanski he understood that he could have to pay restitution for the costs incurred by public agencies because of his actions. Local and federal authorities spent at least $62,000 (£37,000) pursuing the balloon and searching for 6-year-old Falcon after it landed.

Schapanski told Mayumi Heene that her plea doesn't automatically prevent any action by federal authorities regarding her immigration status; she is a Japanese citizen. Her attorney, Lee Christian, acknowledged that was the case but said avoiding a trial could reduce the consequences.

Chief deputy district attorney Andrew Lewis told the judge that prosecutors always intended to charge Mayumi Heene with a misdemeanour based on her cooperation with authorities and what he called her lower level of culpability in the incident. He insisted prosecutors never used the threat of deportation in her case — contrary to what Richard Heene's attorney David Lane has said.

Christian said the possibility of going to trial and risking a felony conviction was one of "many reasons" Mayumi Heene wanted to plead guilty.

Prosecutors would like the Heenes to serve some time in jail, but the final decision will be made by Schapanski at a 23 December sentencing hearing.

In the meantime, Lane said Richard Heene intends to seek employment with trips to New York and California and Mayumi Heene plans to accompany him. The judge adjusted their bond to allow them to do so, as long as they report to probation services within seven days.

Lane told the judge that Richard Heene has an "employment opportunity" in New York. Lane declined to elaborate as he left the courtroom, and Heene waved off questions.

Business associates of Richard Heene said that before the balloon incident he was trying to pitch a TV series based on science. The Heenes are amateur storm chasers and had twice appeared on the ABC reality show Wife Swap.

Mayumi Heene allegedly told investigators the balloon launch was a hoax aimed at promoting a possible reality television show. Neither she nor her husband discussed their intent during the court hearing and neither apologised.

After the hearing, when asked whether he had anything to say to the people who helped look for his son, Richard Heene didn't respond.

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[one...two...tree 2,762]

I hope she'll leave that conniving and controlling ####### now.

[Darnell 8,479]

I saw a blurb today - thanks for the detailed content.

I wonder if his job prospects are better in Japan? Lots of crazy reality TV shows there - Surely he could land something?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Schapanski told Mayumi Heene that her plea doesn't automatically prevent any action by federal authorities regarding her immigration status; she is a Japanese citizen.

lol there IS a reason to acquire US citizenship after all! (Assuming you like expensive, illegal pranks!)

Edited November 13, 2009 by Sousuke

[nowhereman 1]

Fair sentence... restitution & some jail time. They wasted a lot of taxpayer money.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Fair sentence... restitution & some jail time. They wasted a lot of taxpayer money.

I'd also require the father make a public apology along with a promise to never seek out media attention again.

[nowhereman 1]

Fair sentence... restitution & some jail time. They wasted a lot of taxpayer money.

I'd also require the father make a public apology along with a promise to never seek out media attention again.

And throw in some mandatory parental counseling.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Fair sentence... restitution & some jail time. They wasted a lot of taxpayer money.

I'd also require the father make a public apology along with a promise to never seek out media attention again.

And throw in some mandatory parental counseling.

The father is a real piece of work.

[Laveau 67]

I'm familiar with the story but not the family and their prior stints on ... was it Wife Swap? What are they like as far as what has been shown on tv?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

What a waste of the court's time.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm not sure I follow. They broke the law, they needed to go to court. They pled guilty, saving a lot of time, whatever the motivation for that was.

Of course, they shouldn't have broken the law in the first place, but then again, who should?

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I'm not sure I follow. They broke the law, they needed to go to court. They pled guilty, saving a lot of time, whatever the motivation for that was.

Of course, they shouldn't have broken the law in the first place, but then again, who should?

Oh, I agree. But all this hype about this kind of ####### is well, a waste of time.

[Peikko 1,575]

Yes, I totally agree. The whole thing was/is ridiculous. It made me wonder most of all at how the media allocates its resources to particular stories, and how they gauge significance. It would of course have been quite terrible had this been real, but I still do not think it warranted the coverage it received.

[DEDixon 39]

Fair sentence... restitution & some jail time. They wasted a lot of taxpayer money.

I'd also require the father make a public apology along with a promise to never seek out media attention again.

And throw in some mandatory parental counseling.

i think jail time is a waste and does unnecessary harm to the children. A massive amount of community service would serve the public well and their children would not suffer as much.

[Sandrila 1]

I think people need to come up with better inventions than this.

Don't they know you can't even fart anymore without having police intervention and FBI surveillance?

Jeez...that and the threat of a lawsuit.

Whole nother meaning to the word.."in trouble with the law"