NEW MUG SHOT: Balloon Boy Dad Richard Heene Lands In Jail
Posted on Jan 11, 2010 @ 10:34AM
UPDATE: Richard Heene showed up at the jail at 8:40 a.m. MST to begin serving his sentence.
Richard Heene begins serving a 90-day jail sentence, at Larimer County Detention Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, Monday for orchestrating the so-called ‘Balloon Boy’ hoax that captivated the nation last fall.
Heene – who claims he only pleaded guilty in order to keep his wife from being deported to her native Japan -- must serve 30 days before he can participate in the jail's work release program.
Heene says his wife misunderstood the meaning of the word ‘hoax’ when she purportedly confessed to authorities.
PHOTOS: Balloon Boy Family Out & About
Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge and faces a 20-day jail term.
PHOTOS: The Heene Family on Wife Swap
The Heenes must also pay restitution for the rescue effort that sent officers from two counties and other agencies scrambling. The Colorado National Guard launched two helicopters to track the balloon and possibly rescue the boy. Prosecutors estimate the Heenes owe $48,000, though Richard Heene's attorney could provide a different estimate by a January 25 deadline.
Richard Heene also faces an $11,000 civil penalty from the Federal Aviation Administration. The balloon briefly shut down a runway at Denver International Airport.
VIDEO: Balloon Boy Dad's Bizarre Short Movie
Sheriff's investigators suspected the family's claims that their six-year-old son Falcon was inside the balloon were a hoax after Falcon declared in a CNN interview that "we did this for the show." The boy hid for five hours in the garage as the drama played out on television.
Last week, Heene appeared on both Larry King Live and on the Today Show, and claimed he truly believed his son was inside the balloon when it floated away in October.
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jerseynorm, that is a stupid remark the media doesn't care who you know, they want news.
And if they knew more important people they wouldn't be so stupid as to try this hoax they would have been able to do it better.
Posted Mon, 01/11/2010 - 11:57am
They need to see Jon and share the duct tape to shut them all up. Like Jon their time in the lime light has past and need to step back into the shadows.
Posted Mon, 01/11/2010 - 11:53am
I just watched his interview where he wants the ACLU and FBI investigate the sheriff. Who the heck does he think he is? His ego is unbelievable I feel sorry for his wife and kids.
Posted Mon, 01/11/2010 - 11:53am
if they knew the right person,that stunt would of worked...
Posted Mon, 01/11/2010 - 10:47am
she would have had to file papers...perhaps she didn't. it wouldn't surprise me. these two don't seem to follow the rules.
Posted Mon, 01/11/2010 - 9:49am
I'm not up on current immigration laws, but if they have older children & they are married, how could she get deported? she has been here since before they were married??? Some explain this to me....... seriously!
Posted Mon, 01/11/2010 - 8:39am