(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
Two months after the “Balloon Boy” incident, Richard and Mayumi Heene have been sentenced for the hoax they hoped would land them a reality tv gig. Judge Stephen Schapanski sentenced the two to jail time, probation, community service, and payment of restitution. In a show of mercy, the Heenes will serve their incarceration times alternately, so that one parent may remain with the children.
Richard Heene, the “brains” behind the elaborate ploy, will serve 30 days in jail, followed by another 60 days on work release. He will then be required to serve 100 hours of community service. Mayumi will serve 20 days in jail and 120 hours of community service. Both will be on probation for four years. The amount of restitution was not disclosed, as it has been reported that the exact sum will be decided at a later date. Furthermore, the Heenes are prohibited from profiting in any way from the media attention the hoax garnered.
The Colorado parents caused a national frenzy when they reported that their six-year-old son Falcon was stowed away on a weather balloon that had become untethered from their backyard. Rescue workers from throughout the state and dozens of community members spent a large portion of the day and millions of dollars in an attempt to land the balloon and the boy safely.
After the balloon was finally landed, Falcon was nowhere to be found and further panic ensued with the belief that he had fallen. It was later discovered that Falcon was hiding in the attic of the Heene home in a box, supposedly hiding in fear of getting in trouble for tinkering with the balloon. On a national morning show, Falcon’s slip of “for the show” revealed that he had simply been hiding in obedience to his father.
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