FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Richard and Mayumi Heene, the Colorado parents who carried out the infamous “balloon boy” hoax, have both been sentenced to jail, the Associated Press reports.
Richard Heene was sentenced to 90 days in jail, the majority of which will be part of work release program. His wife was sentenced to 20 days behind bars after his release.
The judge also barred the couple from profiting from the Oct. 15 hoax, in which the Heenes claimed their 6-year-old son Falcon had been swept away by a flying saucer-like helium balloon.
Prosecutors are still seeking to recover the costs of the search and investigation, a figure likely to exceed $50,000.
The couple’s story quickly unraveled in the hours after the incident made headlines. The Heenes appeared on CNN, where Falcon was asked why he was hiding in the attic the whole time.
“You guys said we did this for the show,” the little boy responded.
That led to Colorado authorities arresting the Heenes within days of the hoax.
The family previously appeared on the ABC reality show Wife Swap.
