Larrimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden believes that Richard and Mayumi Heene, parents of Balloon Boy Falcon Heene, knew all along that their son was not in the now famous helium balloon.
An apparent slip-up occurred during a CNN interview when Richard asked Falcon why he had not come out of his hiding place sooner. Falcon responded with, “you guys said that we did this for the show.”
It was that response which raised lingering suspicions amongst authorities, who were already questioned the flimsiness of the ropes used to tether the balloon.
A former acquaintance told Gawker that Richard Heene had once discussed using the balloon to fake a UFO sighting, in order to kick-start a reality show for the family.
It is likely that multiple misdemeanor and felony charges will be laid against the couple. If convicted of the more serious charges Richard and Mayumi Heene could be sentenced to up to six years in prison and fined up to $500,000.
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[…] of payment as cash, and pictures show one of the Heene children eating pizza, which means that the hoaxers were hit with a $49.58 […]