Thursday, November 12, 2009

'Balloon boy' dad will plead guilty



Richard Heene, who's a longshot to win any Father of the Year honors, will plead guilty Friday to his role in "Balloon Boy," the unbelievable hoax he cooked up to get publicity for a reality TV show.

Heene, 48, and his wife Mayumi initially reported their 6-year-old son Falcon was in a helium balloon that was flying uncontrollably over the Fort Collins, Colo., skies on Oct. 15. CNN followed the incident live, and law enforcement and rescue personnel tracked the balloon before it finally came to rest after a wild hour or so.

There was no boy. He was hiding in the garage. Family went on national TV the next day, but when young Falcon said, "We did it for the show," well, the party was over.

Heene will plead guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, a felony, his attorney told the Associated press. His wife will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor.

They will both be allowed to serve probation sentences. Part of me believes dead old dad should do some jail time, but his sentencing is in the court of public opinion. It's pretty clear -- he's a grade A kook.

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