FORT COLLINS – The Colorado man who sparked a mass rescue effort and riveted the media with a bogus claim that his son floated away in a helium balloon was sentenced yesterday to 90 days in jail, most of which will be on a work-release basis.
The boy’s mother was spared from serving any jail time and sentenced instead to 20 days of supervised public service.
Richard and Mayumi Heene were also each placed on probation for four years and face thousands of dollars in fines and restitution, which will be calculated later.
Their sentencing capped a two-month legal saga that began with what authorities said was a publicity stunt aimed at gaining the family their own reality TV show.
As a condition of their probation, the judge barred the couple, who have three sons, from earning any financial benefit, such as from a book deal or other media venture, that might be generated from the so-called “balloon boy” escapade. “I do want to reiterate that I’m very, very sorry, and I want to apologise to all the rescue workers out there and people who got involved,” the father, his voice choking with emotion, said moments before he was sentenced.
In a letter to the judge, Heene sought leniency for his wife, who lawyers for both sides characterized as the minor player in the hoax. The grim-faced couple said nothing as they walked out of the courtroom surrounded by media.They drew worldwide attention on October 15th when they reported that their youngest son, six-year-old Falcon, had been carried away in a homemade helium balloon that accidentally lifted off from their backyard.
The odd-looking silver craft, built to resemble a flying saucer, drifted over Colorado for 80km (50 miles) trailed by National Guard helicopters. The empty balloon came down in a wheat field.
It later turned out that the family had hidden the boy in their garage. – (Reuters)