The parents who carried out the balloon boy hoax were sentenced to jail yesterday and given strict probation conditions that forbid them from earning any money from the spectacle for four years.
The parents who carried out the balloon boy hoax were sentenced to jail yesterday and given strict probation conditions that forbid them from earning any money from the spectacle for four years.
Richard Heene was sentenced to 90 days in jail, including 60 days of work release that will let him pursue his job as a construction contractor while serving his time.
His wife, Mayumi, was sentenced to 20 days in jail.
Richard choked back tears as he said he was sorry, especially to the rescue workers who chased down false reports that his six-year-old son had floated away in a balloon on October 15.
It was a stunt designed to generate attention for a reality TV show.
"I do want to reiterate that I'm very, very sorry. And I want to apologise to all the rescue workers out there, and the people that got involved in the community.
That's it," said Richard, whose wife did not speak at the hearing.
Judge Stephen Schapanski then ordered Richard to begin a 30-day jail term on January 11, delaying the start of the sentence for two weeks so he can spend the holidays with his family.
Schapanski allowed him to serve the remaining 60 days of his jail term under work release, meaning he can work during the day but spend his nights in jail.
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