The parents of Falcon Heene, the ‘Balloon Boy’ who was thought to have floated away in a homemade balloon, will plead guilty tomorrow to charges related to one of the most elaborate hoaxes in modern times.
The Heenes called police in October and told them that Falcon, 6, had been taken into the sky by a homemade air balloon.
The claims sparked a massive chase and investigation, as authorities raced to save the boy they believed to be trapped in the balloon, only to later learn that it was all a hoax.
Richard Heene and Mayumi Heene will plead guilty to separate charges. She will plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of making a false report to authorities. Richard will plead guilty to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant.
The plea deals come after the family realized that Miyumi could be deported if felony charges stuck to her. She is a Japanese citizen.
“It is supremely ironic that law enforcement has expressed such grave concern over the welfare of the children,” their attorney, David Lane, said.
“But it was ultimately the threat of taking the children’s mother from the family and deporting her to Japan which fueled this deal.”
The couple will serve probation as opposed to jail time as part of the plea deal.
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