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Credit: Splash News Online

Balloon Boy's Dad Going to Jail for 90 Days

Wednesday – December 23, 2009 – 12:28pm

So much for a happy holiday: Balloon boy's dad is going to the slammer.

On Wednesday, Richard Heene was sentenced to four years of supervised probation for hatching a hoax that his 6-year-old son, Falcon, had floated away in a homemade helium balloon.

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He was also ordered to serve 30 days of "straight time" in jail, in addition to 60 additional days on a work-release program.

He also must pay an as-yet unspecified restitution.

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During his sentencing, Heene choked back tears as he stood before the judge.

"I'm very, very sorry, and I want to apologize to all the rescue workers out there and the people who got involved in the community. That's it," he said.

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His lawyer David Lane added, "You know, what happened here has spun so wildly out of control that nobody hand any inkling that this would be the worldwide event that it turned into."

In November, Heene and his wife Mayumi pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting to authorities.

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Court documents have revealed that the couple mounted the plan about two weeks before the Oct. 15 incident and "instructed their three children to lie to authorities as well as the media regarding this hoax." Their motive was to "make the Heene family more marketable for future media interests," the documents said. 

A prosecutor said Wednesday that the search-and-rescue launched cost at least $47,000.

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  • December 28, 2009 - 3:43pm Reader Says:

    That's such a stupid ridiculous comment below. Their family life is none of social/child welfare services business. Child services is only for ABUSED or NEGlECTED children. There was never any abuse or neglect in their family. Stop causing trouble when there's not any.
  • December 28, 2009 - 11:15am Ashlee Says:

    OOOPS, I MEANT YEARS!
  • December 28, 2009 - 11:12am Ashlee Says:

    GREAT NEWS! Four months will probably only be two months...if even that! When this story first came out, the news reported it cost 200,000...guess not though seeing how the amount is much lower.
  • December 27, 2009 - 12:14am Weazelina Says:

    He's Douchebag number 2. Douchebag number 1 is Jon Gosselin.
  • December 26, 2009 - 11:09am Jen Says:

    I'm glad he feels bad but I just wonder if he's sorry for what has happened or if he's just sorry he got caught. Makes me curious about the mom though; is she goingto have to serve jail time as well? Hopefully they'll have to pay the $47,000 back as well.
  • December 24, 2009 - 5:33am Sheila Says:

    I hope there are many civil trials to follow.
  • December 23, 2009 - 9:50pm lights Says:

    they need to pony up that $47,000
  • December 23, 2009 - 6:21pm JUDE Says:

    As well as jail time, fading back into obscurity is what this couple needs, with child welfare and social services at their door on a weekly basis.
  • December 23, 2009 - 3:21pm KQON Says:

    You need a license to get a dog, but not to have children....
  • December 23, 2009 - 2:56pm lana Says:

    the wife called it in to 911 and was just as much in on it as he was.
  • December 23, 2009 - 2:31pm Jon Says:

    Good, they should be sentenced, but the sentences should've been longer, though!
  • December 23, 2009 - 2:30pm Peter Says:

    Excellent - hopefully he has learned his lesson. That goes with his wife too.