Balloon Boy Parents Plead Guilty, Could Face Prison Time

AP:

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — 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 Friday to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant. Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting.

Richard Heene's attorney, David Lane, says the pleas are part of an agreement to avoid possible deportation of Mayumi Heene to her native Japan should she be convicted in court of greater charges.

Sentencing will be later.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) – The Colorado father accused of pulling a spectacular hoax by reporting his son was aboard a runaway balloon has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant.

Richard and Mayumi Heene appeared in court Friday. Richard Heene entered a guilty plea, and Mayumi Heene was expected to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting.

Richard Heene's attorney, David Lane, says the pleas are part of an agreement to avoid possible deportation of Mayumi Heene to her native Japan should she be convicted in court of greater charges.

Sentencing will be later.

Comments

[NoSillyName]

Ridiculously light charges. Should'a thrown the book at 'em!

[TheAlchemist]

What about restitution? Will this family be expected to pay the taxpayers back for the taxpayer dollars that were invested in this hoax?

[jdrourke]

Nice mug shot, Rich. I'm surprised you didn't vomit for the camera...

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/better-step-back-balloon-boy/

[sherbug]

So the wife is an illegal immigrant and she gets a pass on being deported if she cops a plea. I think things would have been a lot different if she was a Mexican illegal. Her butt would be on the bus headed back to the border already.

[Slackjaw1]

I agree! Funny how Lou Dobbs didn't address her legality before his show ended. It just shows how racism works here in the U.S.

[twoshoes2]

She's a Japanese citizen but is in the US legally. Get your facts straight.

[sherbug]

Facts or not, should she get a pass?

[applecrispbetty]

There's no basis for your conclusion. She could easily have a green card (as the wife of
US citizen).

[BloginSong]

What sick strange people. Poor sweet kid. I feel like they need to be investigated for some kind of child abuse....they made their kid SICK doing this.

I wrote a song about the whole situation....its dark. http://bloginsong.com/?p=175

I think that our culture is somewhat liable for this kind of bizarre behavior. We do eat it up, don't we?

[jdrourke]

Well said and nice job.

http://jdrourke.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/better-step-back-balloon-boy/