Colorado Authorities Expected To Press Charges In Balloon Boy Case
Colorado Authorities Expected To Press Charges In Balloon Boy Case against Richard Heene.
Colorado authorities are saying that criminal charges are expected to be filed against Richard Heene, a scientist, storm-chasing Dad, whose giant Mylar balloon ascended into the sky earlier this week, sparking fears that his son Falcon Heene, 6, was aboard the balloon.
(pic) Richard Heene offers a cardboard box Saturday to receive questions about his son, Falcon and his weather balloon.
Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden stated that, “We do anticipate at some point in the future, there will be some criminal charges filed with regards to this incident.”
It seems that the balloon saga that captured the nation’s attention early Thursday, October 25th, 2009, is taking another level of mystery.
Thursday afternoon, the Heene family reported that the family’s homemade helium balloon was set adrift, apparently with young Falcon Heene, and that he was very possibly inside.
Since then…speculation has mounted over whether the incident was a hoax by the father
The same family, also has appeared on ABC’s “Wife Swap.”
Richard Heene has posted videos of storm chasing and other activities online. Not that this is against the law…but now authorities are saying that these kind of activities are unsafe for children.
Saturday, October 17th, in an impromptu press conference outside the Heene home, Richard Heene told reporters the runaway balloon incident was “absolutely no hoax.”
Has anyone noticed that the wife fits the Stanford wives…not a peep out of her…she just sits there and smiles. Could she be a robot?
The balloon boy incident prompted a widespread search in northern Colorado that included local citizens, local news helicopters, law enforcement from several counties, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Colorado National Guard.
It all ended when Falcon climbed down from the attic above the garage at the family’s Fort Collins, Colorado, home.
Granted, thank goodness he was safe…however…
If the incident was a hoax, the only charge local authorities could press would be making a false report to authorities, which is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Authorities are saying that even though it is only a misdemeanor, it “hardly seems serious enough given the circumstances, and they are certainly going to talk to FAA officials and federal officials to see if perhaps there aren’t additional federal charges that would be more appropriate in the circumstances than what we’re able to do locally.
In other words, they are going to slap some other charges on Richard Heene, like enough tax payers money wasn’t spent in the balloon boy incident.
Colorado Authorities Expected To Press Charges In Balloon Boy Case and authorities state that further details would be disclosed October 18th, 2009, and that neither Richard Heene or Mayumi Heene, who came in voluntarily Saturday, was under arrest at that time.
The couple emerged Saturday evening, October 17th, 2009, from the sheriff’s office after several hours of interviews with investigators.
“I was talking to the sheriff’s department just now to further things along,” Richard Heene told reporters outside the building. “We’re doing well.”
Earlier, on Saturday, Richard Heene emerged from his house and offered a cardboard box for the media to submit questions.
Heene stated that, “I got people e-mailing me, calling me; they’ve got a lot of questions, and I don’t know how to quite frankly answer any of them other than I’ve got a box.”
Hoax speculation began to mount over whether the incident was staged after the family appeared on CNN’s “Larry King Live” on Thursday night.
County Sheriff Alderden stated Friday that, ” based on reports that the parents took these children into potentially dangerous situations, with tornado chases, the experimental balloons and other activities, it would be appropriate to involve child protection services to at least see what the family situation is and whether the children are in a safe condition.”
Well, I don’t know about this…it seems as though the sheriff’s office is pissed because they can’t prove that the Henne’s provided a hoax for TV viewers and they are looking for vengeance for being made a fool of.
Are storm chases considered a family outing?
For the full story of “Colorado Authorities Expected To Press Charges In Balloon Boy Case,” go to CNN News.
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Perhaps any hoax which involves emergency responders should carry similar penalty as arson in various degrees.