The first 30 will be full-time behind bars, but the last month will be spent on work release. Then Richard Heene will be on probation for four years. Sentence won't start until early January, so his kids can see on Christmas. No word yet on Balloon Mom, she'll be sentenced a little later today.
UPDATED: Balloon Mom is getting 20 days in jail, though maybe "in jail" isn't the right term. She'll do jail-supervised community service during the days, then go home at night.
(AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
Does Heene have a job?
Posted by: Jane | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Make him listen to "99 Luftballoons" 24/7 while he's in jail.
Posted by: cripjak | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Will the wife be deported, though?
Posted by: Dan | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Doesn't sound like it, Dan. That was part of the plea-bargaining.
Posted by: Tam | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 12:25 PM
A couple of nit-wits. I think they should put both of them on a balloon and let it float away.
Posted by: Drasil | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 12:30 PM
I believe that they should be required to 'pay back' all the costs expended due to their inappropriate and selfish actions.
Posted by: don miguel | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 01:00 PM
These people aren't a threat to society. Make them pay back the money and do community service. Save the beds for violent criminals.
Posted by: REALLY!?! | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 01:53 PM
Wonder what this does for his chances to work for Jiffy Pop?
Posted by: You're a Mean Drunk R2D2™ | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 02:04 PM
Sentence them to five years of being beeitch slapped by anyone who can recognize their attention seeking arse's.
Posted by: mutt | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 04:31 PM
If you actually read the article, you will see that one of the reasons they are being sentenced to jail time is as a warning to potential copy-cat hoaxers.
And yes, they have to pay the money back.
And they are going to be in JAIL, not PRISON.
Posted by: AG | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 07:31 PM
Nice haircut, Richard. Don't drop the soap.
Posted by: Rachel | Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 03:12 AM
Richard Heene will have to serve 30 days of the sentence full-time in the Larimer County jail, with the remaining 60 days served on work-release. He must also serve four years on probation.
Mayumi Heene was sentenced to four years probation and 20 days of jail, to be served through a program that allows her to perform jail-supervised community service a couple days a week and return home at night.
The Heenes must also pay a still-to-be-determined amount of restitution, a figure a prosecutor said today could be $47,000 or more. Richard Heene also faces a possible $11,000 fine from the Federal Aviation Administration in connection with the stunt.
Posted by: PTBitte | Thursday, December 24, 2009 at 07:18 AM