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Richard Heene is photographed by a television crew as he leaves his house with his family in Fort Collins, Colo., on Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. AP Photo.
The parents who carried out the balloon boy hoax were sentenced to jail Wednesday and given strict probation conditions that forbid them from earning any money from the spectacle for four years.
Richard Heene was sentenced to 90 days in jail, including 60 days of work release that will let him pursue his job as a construction contractor while serving his time. His wife, Mayumi, was sentenced to 20 days in jail. More.
Does the punishment fit the crime?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Phaedrus on December 23 at 11:48 a.m.
is there a financial penalty to reimburse law enforcement for the expense of this stunt?
PatrickH on December 23 at 11:59 a.m.
I would hope the CPS in Colorado would also be keeping an eye on this couple. As a parent I find it almost beyond believe that these creeps would endanger their children and waste the time of the police and other emergency services so that they could get some face time on TV. I pray for the welfare of their children.
LukeB on December 23 at 12:00 p.m.
They’re already going to have to pay back expenses. Unfortunately the article does not explain the rationale for jail time, other than it was part of “a deal”.
Without knowing specifically what laws were broken, jail time seems excessive to me.
Bree on December 23 at 12:25 p.m.
I think it’s great that they are not allowed to profit off this whole thing, I wish it was for life though rather than just four years.
Me on December 23 at 1:12 p.m.
Patrick - I don’t see where they endangered their children. Remember the boy wasn’t actually in the balloon - that’s the whole point. Now watching after the kids for having stupid parents - that’s another story. Although if we go there, children everywhere would be taken out of their homes….
Sisyphus on December 23 at 1:30 p.m.
When this first broke before, the hoax was discovered, there was much discussion here on whether the parents were in danger of losing their children because the child was believed to be on board. I argued that there was insufficient evidence to do so. But after the hoax was discovered I was miffed about using a child in an elaborate deception and figured there might be more reason for intervention. But I agree with Me, that there isn’t much state interest in taking these kids away and making them someone else’s responsibility.
Me, I saw earlier that you were headed to Utah next summer. Just beware the elevation changes. Moab’s (Arches/Canyonlands) prime seasons are from March-May and Sept-October, mostly cause of the heat of the summer. I’ve been in the first week of June and it was over 100. Much of the riding is very technical so unless you’re adept at riding rock, make sure you ask at the bike shop for rides that suit your ability. I’m more of a cross country rider. But you should do the slick rock trail above town at least once. Start early and take water.
Bryce sits at 8000 feet and is popular in the summer. Zion is higher than Moab but also hot in the summer. Its sufferable in the canyons.
Stickman on December 23 at 3:48 p.m.
No, I want more jail time.
Stickman on December 26 at 3:51 p.m.
I wish people would have to apply for a license to have children. That sounds a bit strange, but I know so many people that have children that shouldn’t. Who pays the price? The kids of course.