Cops: Balloon Boy Officially A Hoax

FORT COLLINS, CO - Richard and Mayumi Heene will face criminal charges in Colorado after police say they have evidence the couple planned last week's Bolloon Boy incident.

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Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden says he has evidence that the runaway balloon incident was a "publicity stunt" to promote a reality show pilot.

Alderden will be filing charges against Richard and Mayumi Heene, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which is a felony.

The most significant charges could result in a 2-5 year sentence.

The Heene children will probably not face charges.

Alderden says the hoax was a "planned event for two weeks."

Alderden said that if the charges do go forward, they will seek restitution for all the expenses the county incurred.

The sheriff who at first said he believed a couple was being honest when they reported their son was set adrift on a homemade helium balloon now says criminal charges will be filed in the incident.

The Heenes spent much of the Saturday afternoon at the sheriff's office and were headed home where they were expected to speak to reporters.

Richard Heene has insisted that the drama that unfolded Thursday wasn't a publicity stunt. He and his wife reported that their 6-year-old son, Falcon, had been inside the flying-saucer shaped balloon when it launched from their backyard. Actually, Falcon had been hiding in the rafters of his family's
garage.

The Heene family was actively pitching a reality TV show to TLC and other producers before their balloon adventure on Thursday.