In 2009, authorities chased a UFO-like silver helium balloon as it soared into northern Colorado, fearing a little boy might be trapped inside. An arrogant rescue attempt was made on live television, but there was no boy inside when the balloon landed.
The 6-year-old boy was hiding in a house above the garage at his family home in Fort Collins, Cologne. The story of his parents – that they feared he was trapped inside the balloon because he was moving away from their backyard – was recorded in a CNN interview that night in which the boy, Falcon, said “we did it for the show.”
On Wednesday, Colorado government jared police granted a full and unconditional pardon to Falcon’s parents, Richard and Mayumi Hee, who were accused of fraud to generate interest in a possible reality TV show.
In a statement, Mr. Police said, “We are all ready to carry forward this spectacle from a decade ago that wasted the precious time and resources of law enforcement officers and the general public.”
In an interview Thursday, Mr. Hee said his family at the time believed the 17-year-old Falcon was now in a balloon, and the news media did not give him a chance to prove his innocence. Sorry, he said, “it was the best news I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Mr. Hee was convicted of public service, attempting to influence the offense and sentenced to 90 days in prison. Ms. Hayne pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor of filing a false report and spent 20 days in prison. The Associated Press reports that the couple was ordered to pay ution 5,000 in compensation.
“Richard and Mayumi have paid the price in the eyes of the people, served their sentences, and now it’s time for all of us to move on,” police said. “Now is not the time for Balloon Boy Saga to follow a permanent criminal record and let parents down for the rest of their lives.”
Heinz reported the Falcon missing on October 15, 2009. The family said they believe the Falcon was in a saucer-shaped balloon, created by Mr. Heaney, because the Falcon was close to him before he came loose and took off.
The balloon, about 20 feet wide and seven feet long, flew thousands of feet in the air and flew more than 600 miles over most of rural Swat in northern Colorado as the wind blew at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
Traffic at Denver International Airport was halted as dozens of agencies joined the rescue operation, with two helicopters deployed, including the National Guard.
After the boy was found safe at home, Lar Rimmer County Sheriff Jim Alderden told reporters at the time that “the family’s anger and suffering were real and they were relieved when he reappeared.”
He added, “I can’t imagine that he would have been instructed to hide by his parents.”
But days later, in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, Mr. Alderden called the episode a “scam.” He said investigators believed the rescue was a “publicity stunt” by the family to market themselves for a future reality television show.
Before the balloon escaped, the family appeared on “Wife Swap,” a reality television show in which two women exchanged lives and families for two weeks.
Mr Heane’s lawyer, David Lane, said on Thursday that Mr Heane had a strong defense, but was forced to plead guilty.
“Prosecutors in this case came to me and said that if Richard did not commit a serious crime and spend 10 days in jail, we would do everything in our power to ensure that Mummy was deported.” . (Ms. Heaney is a native of Japan.)
“I know if we had given him a fight I could have beaten him,” Mr. Hee said.
The district attorney’s office in Larmer County, where Hennessy pleaded guilty, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
After the conviction, Heinz moved to North-Central Florida, where they separated their three sons from home. Mr Heaney said his children were doing “exceptionally well”.
Mr. Heaney said the waiver would allow him to obtain a general contractor’s license in Florida, and he planned to apply to appear on the entrepreneurial reality show “Shark Tank.”
Kitty Bennett Contributed research.
