Afro-punk
Balloon boy parents face sentence in December'
FORT COLLINS (Reuters) - The parents of a Colorado boy whose apparent brush with death in a helium balloon transfixed millions pleaded guilty on Friday to staging a publicity-seeking hoax and will be sentenced next month.
Richard and Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to a felony and a misdemeanor and will be sentenced on December 23.
The case has sparked outrage over the amount of money spent on a rescue attempt for the six-year-old child, dubbed "balloon boy," after live television images of the saucer-like homemade balloon soaring through the sky gripped the public.
The judge at Friday's hearing told the Heenes they may have to pay to various government agencies some of the cost of the rescue attempt, which had National Guard helicopters chasing the balloon.
"There are financial consequences that could be significant," District Judge Stephen Schapanski said.
The boy's parents agreed to a plea deal under threat that prosecutors would seek to deport the mother, a Japanese citizen, if she were convicted of more serious charges.
Richard Heene, 48, pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant and Mayumi Heene, 45, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting to authorities.
The Heenes drew worldwide attention last month when they said their son had unwittingly sailed away in the balloon. But it landed empty, the boy turned up at home and the mother admitted it was a stunt aimed at making the family marketable for a reality TV show.
Defense attorney David Lane said this week prosecutors had agreed to recommend sentences of probation with the possibility of up to 60 days in jail for the wife and 90 days for the husband.
Comment
Afro-Punk Vol2
16 DOPE TRACKS
DOWNLOAD IT HERE!
Music
LIMITED EDITION MERCH!
LIMITED EDITION
SNEAKERS
T-SHIRTS + POSTERS
CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS!
APX Spotlight
Visit APX for more skate news and views!
Artist Feature
Click here to visit their profile, and download 3 FREE tracks here!
Groups
-
Nappy, Kinky, Awesome!
288 members
-
NYC
225 members
-
Afro Punk Writers
220 members
-
Tattoo & Piercing Enthus…
163 members
-
Eat Mad Veg!!!!
154 members
-
Metal Lovers Unite
143 members
-
Musician
139 members
-
LOS ANGELES AFRO PUNKS
131 members
-
Afro-punk Queers!
129 members
-
Friends and Family of "T…
125 members
-
Gamers
121 members
-
Electronica
120 members
-
Atlanta Afro Punks
108 members
-
Featured Bands
105 members
-
World Range View
104 members
Afro-punk is a platform for the other Black experience, the one we don't see in our media. D.I.Y (Do It Yourself) is the foundation.
© 2009 Created by Matthew
You need to be a member of Afro-punk to add comments!
Join this Ning Network