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• Balloon Boy's balloon for sale

  June 2, 2011 6:49 AM

  Balloon Boy's famous aircraft if now for sale. Balloon Boy's father, who is serving his jail sentence is now auctioning off his famous balloon. Money made from the sale will be donated to Japan's relief efforts because the judge barred him from making money from the incident. ... more »

• One year anniversary of Balloon Boy saga

  October 15, 2010 9:59 AM

  It's been a year since the world watched a runaway silver balloon flying over Colorado, fearing for the little boy thought to be inside. On Oct. 15, 2009, Richard and Mayumi Heene reported that their 6-year-old son Falcon had floated away in a UFO-shaped balloon, touching off a furious... more »

• Balloon boy family moves to Florida

  September 3, 2010 12:21 PM

  The family at the center of the balloon boy hoax has moved out of the house where the fateful trip began, leaving Colorado for Florida. Richard and Mayumi Heene and their three boys have moved to Bradenton, Fla., where Richard Heene will continue working in construction. Richard Heene... more »

• Balloon-boy parents get balloon back

  May 14, 2010 12:02 PM

  The runaway UFO-like balloon that the world thought was carrying a 6-year-old boy is back in the hands of the parents who pleaded guilty to the hoax. The Larimer County Sheriff's office says Richard Heene asked to measure the balloon to make sure it was the same one he... more »

• Balloon boy dad now on home detention

  March 24, 2010 12:48 PM

  Sheriff's officials say the Colorado man who pleaded guilty to falsely influencing the sheriff by saying his son had floated off in a huge balloon is completing his sentence at home. Larimer County sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said Wednesday that Richard Heene finished his time in jail and with... more »

• Balloon boy dad transferred to start work-release

  February 8, 2010 5:16 PM

  The man who pleaded guilty in the balloon boy hoax has been released from the Larimer County jail to serve the rest of his sentence through the alternative sentencing unit. Sheriff's office spokeswoman Eloise Campanella says Richard Heene was transferred Sunday and is expected to work during the day,... more »

• Balloon boy attorneys challenge restitution amount

  January 26, 2010 5:59 PM

  Attorneys for the parents who pleaded guilty to the balloon boy hoax say the family should pay only a small portion of the $48,000 in restitution sought by authorities. Attorneys for Richard and Mayumi Heene filed a joint motion last week challenging the amount sought by the Larimer County... more »

• Balloon boy mom's interviews contradict husband

  January 23, 2010 9:44 AM

  The mother of the 6-year-old boy purported to be in a runaway balloon repeatedly told authorities it was all a hoax, contradicting what her husband told media before he reported to jail. The video interviews obtained by the Fort Collins Coloradoan show Mayumi Heene telling sheriff's officials that the Oct.... more »

• Filmmaker: Movie about balloon dad could clear him

  January 18, 2010 9:50 AM

  Many of Richard Heene's friends and supporters seem to have taken off as fast as the balloon the Colorado man claimed his son floated off in. But not Steven C. Barber. The 48-year-old filmmaker says he still believes Heene really thought his son was in the balloon as it spun... more »

• Officials scoff at balloon dad's new media blitz

  January 9, 2010 9:08 AM

  Prosecutors have submitted an estimate of the amount authorities spent responding to a couple's false report that their son was inside a runaway balloon. Richard Heene is set to start serving a 90-day jail sentence Monday in Larimer County, and Mayumi Heene will serve a 20-day sentence after his jail... more »

• Couple to be sentenced Wednesday for balloon boy stunt

  December 22, 2009 9:44 AM

  A Colorado couple face the possibility of jail time for fabricating a story about their 6 year-old son floating off in a runaway balloon to gain publicity. Richard and Mayumi Heene will go before a judge Wednesday for sentencing. Pulling such a stunt wasn't cheap. And the judge also... more »

• Lawyer's request stirs up speculation about talk show deals

  November 14, 2009 9:18 AM

  There's speculation the balloon boy's parents could have talk show appearances or other deals in the works after a Colorado judge agreed to allow the couple to travel to New York and California to explore "employment opportunities." Richard and Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty yesterday to charges they whipped up... more »

• Colorado balloon boy father plead guilty

  November 13, 2009 11:00 AM

  The Fort Collins father accused of pulling a spectacular hoax by reporting his son was aboard a runaway balloon has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant. Richard and Mayumi Heene appeared in court Friday. Richard Heene entered a guilty plea, and Mayumi Heene... more »

• Charges filed against Balloon Boy parents

  November 12, 2009 1:46 PM

  Colorado prosecutors say they've filed criminal charges against the parents accused of staging a hoax when they reported their 6-year-old son floated away aboard a helium balloon. Prosecutors said Thursday that Richard Heene was charged with attempting to influence a public servant, a felony. They charged Mayumi Heene with false... more »

• Balloon Boy parents to plead guilty

  November 12, 2009 8:15 AM

  The Fort Collins parents in last month's notorious "balloon boy" case will plead guilty to offenses for creating a hoax that their son had flown away in a large balloon. Richard and Mayumi Heene are to plead Friday morning in Larimer County Court, according to a statement issued by... more »

• No decision on charges in Colorado balloon case

  October 27, 2009 1:35 PM

  Prosecutors say they haven't decided whether to file charges against the Colorado parents accused of falsely reporting their son was in a runaway balloon. Prosecutors said Tuesday they're waiting for more information from the sheriff. Sheriff Jim Alderden says Richard and Mayumi Heene were lying when they reported their 6-year-old... more »

• Sheriff's blog recounts balloonacy

  October 23, 2009 11:22 AM

  Some suggested fishing hooks. Others, skydivers. Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden says spectators sent him plenty of real-time suggestions last week on how to capture the large helium balloon that a Fort Collins couple said was carrying their 6-year-old son, Falcon Heene. The boy was found at home. In his... more »

• FAA investigators may be focusing on balloon call

  October 23, 2009 8:41 AM

  The Colorado parents who reported their 6-year-old son was being carried away in a runaway balloon could be in hotter water for making a phone call than for setting loose the flying saucer-like craft. The FAA has few rules for the release of unmanned balloons, and they take effect only... more »

• FAA opens investigation into balloon boy incident

  October 20, 2009 2:06 PM

  As sheriff's investigators in Colorado continue their probe of last week's alleged balloon hoax, the Federal Aviation Administration has opened its own investigation. A spokesman says the probe began either Friday or yesterday, but he didn't know how long it would take. He says the FAA investigates civil allegations, rather... more »

• Balloon boy charges may not come until next week

  October 20, 2009 9:07 AM

  Authorities investigating the family accused of perpetrating the balloon boy hoax to promote a reality show say they don't expect to bring possible charges until at least next week. Larimer County sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella says investigators don't anticipate finishing their reports and presenting them to the district attorney's office... more »

• Reality TV passed on balloon boy's family

  October 19, 2009 10:20 AM

  One thing about the Heene family appears to be true, at least according to one sheriff: The story of a boy floating away in a homemade helium balloon was a hoax, dreamed up by the Heenes in the hopes they could land a reality TV deal, according to officials. ... more »

• Man who sold story sought in balloon boy case

  October 19, 2009 7:07 AM

  Colorado authorities now say a Denver man is wanted for questioning in the alleged hoax involving a boy trapped in a runaway balloon. Investigators say they want to interview Robert Thomas, an associate of the father who allegedly carried out the hoax. Official interest in Thomas arose after e-mails surfaced... more »

• Larimer County Sheriff: "This is a hoax"

  October 18, 2009 1:09 PM

  Larimer County Sheriff has announced that the "balloon boy" saga is a hoax. "It has been determined that this is a hoax." Sheriff Jim Alderden told reporters Sunday, "On the bizarre meter this rates a 10." Sheriff Alderden explains that the Heene's staged the hoax as a publicity stunt with... more »

• Heene's "big announcement" leave your questions in a box

  October 17, 2009 11:43 AM

  A "big announcement" from the father of a boy feared missing in a helium balloon failed to materialize. Richard Heene told reporters early Saturday he would hold a news conference with an announcement later in the morning. But when he emerged from the house and came to microphones, he said... more »

• Was the Flyaway Balloon a Hoax?

  October 16, 2009 11:15 PM

  There are a lot of questions surrounding the family of the six year-old boy and the out of control balloon Thursday. Falcon Heene has had a lot of attention since the fly away balloon. However, after comments on talk shows saying the family, "did this for a show,"... more »

• Heene family releases video of infamous balloon lifting off

  October 16, 2009 11:14 AM

  The family of 6 year-old Falcon Heene has released home video of the balloon launch that kicked off an hours long search for the boy on Thursday. The video shows father Richard Heene, wife Mayumi and one of the three Heene sons working on the balloon in their back yard.... more »

• "Balloon boy" family won't face charges

  October 15, 2009 11:25 PM

  The family of a 6-year old boy who was believed to be inside an experiemental aircraft for several hours Thursday, won't face charges, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's office. After an hours long chase of the balloon, it turned out the boy was never inside and was in... more »