Today, the parents of "balloon boy" were sentenced in Fort Collins.

Quote:Richard Heene, who last month pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant and who took blame today as the brains of the hoax, was sentenced to 90 days in jail. He 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.

Larimer County Court Judge Stephen Schapanski said he believed it was necessary for there to be a "punitive nature" to Heene's sentence but delayed the start of the jail sentence until Jan. 11.

"I will delay this until after the holiday in fairness mostly to his children," Schapanski said.

Mayumi Heene, who helped hatch the scheme and who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of false reporting, 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.

They will also have to pay an as yet undetermined amount of restitution. The prosecution may seek $47,000 and their attorney, high profile defense lawyer David Lane may seek to try and have that amount lessened. One important condition the judge imposed was that the Heenes are barred from making money off the hoax.

Quote:"These are not rich people," Lane said. "They're going to have a lot to pay. I hope they can afford it."

Yeah, especially after hiring himself. Wonder how they afforded that? Probably the most expensive lawyer in Colorado.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14055721

Some people thought they deserved a harsher punishment. I think it is an appropriate sentence.

So, what say you? Was this an appropriate sentence?

People could have been injurred or even killed in the dramatic effort to 'rescue' his son from that balloon. All for a little hype so this A-hole could get his name in the media for a few days. He got off lightly. With any luck this article will be his last mention in the media for the rest of his life.

Quote:They will also have to pay an as yet undetermined amount of restitution. The prosecution may seek $47,000 and their attorney

The guy runs a failing construction (home improvement) business. Rest assure NO ONE will hire him now, so expect this family to become wards of the state and never pay back a dime.

(12-24-2009 12:40 AM)BroncoPhilly Wrote:  People could have been injurred or even killed in the dramatic effort to 'rescue' his son from that balloon. All for a little hype so this A-hole could get his name in the media for a few days. He got off lightly. With any luck this article will be his last mention in the media for the rest of his life.

Were you there? Do you know them personally? How do you know this? He's not a criminal.

Sincerely,

PiledHighBronco

Quote:Do you know them personally?

Yes, so shut up.

Why are you so angry, BP?

Shut up.

This guy is such a loser. He failed in an acting career, and tried his "acting" during a lie detector test by pretending to fall asleep. Nice one!

I think the sentence they received was very lenient. Mom gets 20 days but can do her time over 10 weekends if she prefers. Dad gets to do work release and only has to sleep at the jail. (according to an article in Det News on 12/23...differs from the Colorado paper article) They deserved to get a tougher sentence.

(12-24-2009 10:40 AM)chipfan Wrote:  I think the sentence they received was very lenient.

Well, of course. They're not poor and black.

Well, he lives in Ft. Collins. He comes across as sophisticated compared to his neighbors.