Balloon boy parents plead guilty
Parents of balloon boy Falcon Heene plead guilty
Friday, 13, Nov 2009 04:56
By Richard James.
The parents of a six-year-old dubbed 'balloon boy' by the US media have pleaded guilty to charges that could see them sentenced to time in prison.
On Friday Richard Heene admitted a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant, while his wife Mayuni pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour charge of false reporting.
The couple's lawyer admitted the couple had entered the pleas as part of an agreement to avoid the possible deportation of Mrs Heene back to her native Japan if convicted of greater charges.
The pair are due to be sentenced at a later date.
Media and civil defence helicopters were dispatched in October when the Heenes said their son Falcon was in a helium balloon travelling at speeds of up to 50mph and heights of 8,000ft in the skies above Colorado.
When the balloon, made of duct tape and balsa wood crashed, it emerged that Falcon was in fact hiding at home in his parents' attic.
Authorities charged the Heenes when he said his parents had told him to hide "for the show" in a live television interview.