“Balloon Boy” Parents Get Jail Time
Richard and Mayumi Heene, the wanna-be reality TV stars who fooled the country into thinking their six-year-old son was trapped in a hot air balloon this fall, will get jail time for their hoax.
A judge in Colorado also barred the couple from receiving any financial benefit from the stunt, which the couple hoped would earn them a prominent place in America’s voyeuristic telescape.
Richard Heene received 30 days in jail and 60 days in a work release program, while his wife Mayumi received 20 days in jail and a similar work release sentence.
The couple was also placed on probation for four years and may have to pay $47,000 in restitution.
The “Balloon Boy” incident captured the nation’s attention in October, when six-year-old Falcon Heene reportedly found himself trapped in a homemade hot air balloon that “accidentally” took off from the Heene’s backyard.
The boy was later found in his parents’ attic, and days later the incident was revealed to be nothing but an elaborate hoax.
Comments
By Liberty For Me on December 23rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
(May) have to pay $47,000 in restitution?How is that not an order of the court? I think they both should serve time in a mental institution….
By dining room table on December 23rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm
They deserve it! It alarmed everyone and wasted the time of the people who chased the balloon. I don’t know why there are people like them. I guess they need to talk to a specialist.
By pigzfly on December 24th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Their hoax was nowhere as big as Arthur Anderson, Enron or weapons of mass deception that would arrive within 45 minutes or the pizza was free. Let’s stick it to the little guys who spit on the sidewalk and let those who run over people in the crosswalk go free.