Balloon Boy's Dad Now Behind Bars

Richard Heene, father of six-year-old Falcon Heene, AKA "Balloon Boy," is now behind bars. He reported to jail Monday to begin a 90-day jail sentence.

The Oct. 15, 2009 "Balloon Boy" incident was derided as a hoax after investigators determined that the Heene family, specifically Richard and mother Mayumi Heene, had intended to use the incident to springboard themselves into reality TV. The family had said that Falcon was in the "cabin" of a homemade UFO-shaped balloon, and rescuers and pursuers spend much time and effort trying to "save" him.

Things began to unravel for the Heenes when they appeared on CNN and Falcon said, when asked why he hid in the garage when people called out to him, "You had said that we did this for the show."

However, despite pleading guilty for a relatively light charge of attempting to influence a public servant, Richard Heene remains adamant that there was no hoax. He said he truly believed his son was inside the balloon when it floated away in October, and that he pleaded guilty only to save his wife from being deported to Japan.

Mayumi Heene, a citizen of Japan, faces 20 days in jail, but she can take it in staggered spurts and starts. In addition to their jail time, the Heenes must also pay restitution for the rescue effort, which included the Colorado National Guard launching two helicopters to track the balloon and possibly rescue the boy. Prosecutors estimate the Heenes owe $48,000, though Richard Heene's attorney could provide a different estimate by a Jan. 25 deadline.

Watch an interview between Richard Heene and Matt Lauer of the Today Show, aired January 8th, in which Heene alleges Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden is a "liar."

Baby Denied Health Insurance Because Underweight

People should ask why this doesn't happen to fashion models, as they are frequently underweight. Recently, a baby was denied insurance because it was overweight, according to the insurance company, anyway. Here's an example in the other direction: a baby denied insurance because it is underweight.

Aislin Bates weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces at birth, and now weighs 22 pounds at 2 years of age. However, she's become a "poster child" for insurance reform.

When Aislin's father, Rob, worked for another company, she was covered under the company’s group health insurance plan, but now he is self-employed and finding insurance coverage for Aislin hard to come by.

Aislin's mother, Rachel Bates said:

"She's perfectly healthy, yet she has become a statistic. There's no reason for her to be a statistic as a non-insured person."

The insurance company in question, United Healthcard's Golden Rule, sent the family a letter, which said, in part, "We are unable to provide coverage for Aislin because her height and weight do not meet our company standards."

The company added, however, that "When evaluating height and weight, we typically utilize other factors as well in making a decision, such as medical records that show evidence of treatment or any underlying medical conditions." In this case, Aislin is undergoing treatment for an active gag reflex. The family states she will only require therapy for a few more months.

In the prior case, a 4-month-old boy, Alex Lange, was denied health insurance coverage because, at 17 pounds, he was considered overweight. In that case, Rocky Mountain Health Plans changed its policy; it now says it won't consider obesity a pre-existing condition barring coverage for larger infants.

"Balloon Boy" Incident a Hoax: Sheriff

The Larimer County Sheriff has declared the "Balloon Boy" incident a hoax, that was designed in the hope of marketing the Heene Family for a reality television show sometime in the future. Charges have not yet been filed, but most likely will be.

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said that among the charges being considered for Richard Heene and his wife Mayumi are three felonies: conspiracy between the husband and the wife to commit a crime, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and an attempt to influence a public servant, the last of which carries a prison term of six years. They could also add filing a false report to the charges, which is a misdemeanor.

The nation stood transfixed on Thursday while authorities and media chased a flying saucer-shaped helium-filled balloon 50 miles from the Heenes' home to a soft landing. It was believed that six-year-old Falcon Heene was on the craft, but in reality he was not, and was later found hiding in a box in the attic of the family's garage.

After elation over the boy being safe died down, thoughts turned to a hoax. The Heene's case was not helped when, appearing on CNN, Falcon said the reason he did not respond to calls out to him, he said "You had said that we did this for the show," that's pretty telling. In fact, watch the video below, and see the evidence.

Additionally, more suspicions were raised when it became known the family had appeared twice on the ABC show "Wife Swap," and had pitched reality TV show ideas to TLC and the "Wife Swap" creators.

Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said at a news conference in Fort Collins, CO:

“It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt. We have evidence to indicate it was a publicity stunt done with the hope of marketing themselves to a realty television show sometime in the future.”

Authorities re-interviewed the family yesterday, as well as conduction searches of their computers, e-mail records and documents in their home. Alderden said the plan to launch a balloon and tell authorities that Falcon was aboard was made as long as two weeks ago.

Alderden added that child protective services would be reviewing the case and determining whether the Heene children are in any danger. Reportedly, all three children knew of the Thursday hoax.

Richard Heene added to the strangeness yesterday when, saying the family did not have cable to see what was being said about his family, he placed a box out in front of the house, telling reporters to place their questions in it.

Tipster Claims He Has Evidence "Balloon Boy" Was a Hoax

A tipster apparently has the goods on Richard Heene, and the balloon boy story, saying it was indeed a hoax. However, the evidence is not free; it's for sale.

The news comes from a Denver-area student who claims to have worked with Richard Heene, father of Falcon, the so-called "balloon boy," on a reality TV show proposal for ABC.

You will recall that yesterday, news media was in a frenzy as a flying saucer-shaped balloon supposedly carrying Falcon Heene, 6, was tracked for over 50 miles, with authorities trying to figure out how to rescue him. Turns out, he wasn't on the balloon at all.

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean anything, per se, as the initial report came from one of Falcon's brothers, who could have been mistaken. Falcon was found hiding in a box in the attic of his family's garage. Again, that doesn't necessarily mean anything, because it's something a kid might do when people are looking for him, if he feels he might be in trouble.

However, when Falcon went on CNN and said, when asked by his father why he didn't reply to calls for him, "You had said that we did this for the show," that's pretty telling. In fact, watch the video below, and see the evidence.

The aforementioned evidence-possessing student says the National Enquirer is considering buying it for between $5,000 and $8,000. He says he and Richard Heene worked together from March until May of this year to prepare "business plans and proposals" to pitch to ABC. You'll recall also that Heene and family were once featured on the show "Wife Swap."

Unfortunately, Heene never paid said student, who admits that he would love to get some cash for this evidence in order to "pay the rent." And sticking it to Heene would just be a bonus, of course.

"The show surrounds scientific experiments and controversial pranks, and one of the pranks within it — actually several of the things within this document — talks about very similar information to what is being debated on the air.

"When Mr. Heene is denying having any involvement with this being for a show — when the little kid, Falcon, says 'Dad, you said to go hide in the attic, we're doing this for the show' — and then he's adamantly denying that, that's when I started cracking up because I have proof that that's not true."

Certainly, if this was a hoax, the father would be charged with something, but it might be as small as a misdemeanor. On the other hand, you can bet they will bill him for the emergency services rendered.

Come on, Enquirer. Fork over the money, already.

"Balloon Boy" Found Hiding at Home

Falcon Heene, the six-year-old boy that was believed to have taken off in a flying saucer shaped helium-filled balloon (above) earlier today, has been found. He was found at home, in a box, in the garage.

Originally, it was reported that Falcon Heene's brother told authorities his brother had both climbed into the balloon, he had also untied the tether of the balloon and took off of it. A lengthy search took place, with multiple media sources chasing the balloon.

While officials tried to figure out a way to safely bring down the craft, believing it was carrying the boy, the FAA tried to track the aircraft on radar. As reported on CNN, for some reason, the balloon was not visible on radar.

Denver International Airport, one of the nation's busiest, saw northbound departures from shutdown for a short time, as the balloon traveled northwest of the airport at that time.

The balloon eventually descended, on its own, in a field in Weld County, more than 40 miles away from its origin. Searchers crowded all around it, but no one was found in the balloon, and fears were that little Falcon had fallen off the balloon.

In fact, Falcon Heene did what a six-year-old might do when they find out the police or other authorities are looking for them: he hid. He was found in the attic of the garage in a box.

Falcon, 6, is the son of Richard and Mayumi Heene of Ft. Collins, CO. Richard Heene is a storm chaser and scientist. He often takes his family on storm chases with him. They apparently sleep in their clothes so they can leap from bed and chase a storm. Falcon has two older brothers, Bradford and Ryo.

Additionally, the parents were on "Wife Swap" and returned for a second appearance on the 100th episode of the show. It's good to see this story ended well. On the other hand, you can bet that people will be trying to figure out why it was reported Falcon was on the balloon.

After all the happiness dissipates, one might winder who is going to pay for the rescue effort, as well. That's all for another day. Right now, Falcon is safe.