Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said the charges against Richard and Mayumi Heene would include conspiracy, attempting to influence a public servant, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and false reporting to authorities. Watch the video below and weigh in on our poll.
Balloon Boy Hoax – Should Jail Time Be Pursued?
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11 Responses to Balloon Boy Hoax – Should Jail Time Be Pursued?
LOL! I’ve met Sheriff Alderden years ago through work! Small world.
I think it’s hilarious (and justified) that they were able to dupe this nutjob Heene to come in for questioning, and get him to admit his hoax. My impression is Heene, like other abusive individuals who are used to controlling the people around him, thought carrying out this hoax would be easy. As usual, people like this have egos larger than their intellect.
Having just seen the Wife Swap episode, I was JUST thinking as I watched it, how this guy must be used to controlling his wife. During a scene where the visiting wife has a female friend of Heene’s come in to try to mediate and have him see her side of things (he’d been very arrogant and not wanting to listen to her AT ALL), Heene blew a gasket and seemed to take great offense at his approach being questioned. He cooled of and came back in the room to apologize, but it really came across as insincere and something he did just to shut these two women up.
Also, his wife was positively over-the-top. She seemed nice enough, but, when confronting her “husband” during the show she would start screaming. I got the impression this was a learned behavior, most likely from her real spouse, Heene.
Also, the Heene boys on the show were encouraged to be as wild as possible (how could they not when they have these parents to emulate?) and cursed openly. How Heene thought he’d be able to control the story while using the boys as *sources* to back up the hoax is beyond me. They appeared to be loose cannons on the WS show, just like their parents. I also think the kids are well aware of their father’s (parents ?) wrath (i.e., vomiting child on tv).
IMO the kids need to be away from this controlling father. I agree that the kids are aware of his wrath and have maybe felt his rage. That poor boy was scared to death when he realized he said the wrong thing and not what his father wanted him to say. I never saw the Wife Swap episodes so I’m not sure about the mother. She might be abused or is she abusing?
Paula,
I didn’t get the impression the wife might be an abuser as well (she actually seemed deeply concerned about the welfare of the kids she was visiting on the show). But if she’s allowing the kind of behavior I saw on the show from their father, as well as being a participant in the hoax, she’s certainly not doing her kids any favors.
As far as her being abused, either she was emulating her husband’s attitude on WS when confronting the other husband and this was something new for her (let out of the cage and getting to be the aggressor for a change, so to speak), or this is how she and her husband (Heene) communicate (a lot of ranting and raving). It’s certainly a possibility this is a dynamic of their marriage and they both are in a unhealthy cycle of behavior.
Apparently the cops have been called more than once to the Heene house in the past (by neighbors or one of the Heenes, we don’t know). Supposedly the wife had bruises on her face but charges were not filed. I find that confusing, because I thought law enforcement had the power to charge a spouse with domestic abuse whether the abused spouse wanted to or not if there was evidence of abuse. I’m not sure about Larimer County, but I thought that had become pretty standard.
And, at the very least, CPS should have/may have been called at some point in the past if the cops are getting multiple calls to the Heene house.
I was out runing errands when the story broke- my 6 yr. old was with me. As a mother I was horrified at the prospect of this child sailing through the air in a balloon- alone. And then when they found the balloon and it was empty my heart broke. I can’t imagine what kind of sick mind would do this to his child, his family, and all the people around the country who were truly worried and afraid for this child’s safety.
One year in jail for the bum. And get those poor kids away from them!
Cella, I saw the “Wife Swap” episodes as well, although your memory is better than mine. I do remember Heene was a tremendous jerk. This incident proves he is quite possibly INSANE. I agree with your overall take on the family dynamics as well.
I think criminal and civil penalties are in order. Jail, possibly, but I would worry about the effect on the children. Obviously, the child welfare authorities are now involved and I think a thorough investigation should be undertaken as to whether the children should be removed from one or both parents on a short term, or possibly longer basis.
Now here we just might have a case for Children and Youth.
By the time I got home to research this news item, the balloon boy had been found. Aww, six is sooo young to have to help a parent lie. This makes mem sad for the poor kid.
Once, I was with a child with suspicious marks on her face, and I asked her how she got hurt. She whispered, “I am not supposed to tell my teacher.” I reminded her that I wasn’t her teacher, so she told me the truth. She told her teacher an entirely different story. She was so relieved to have followed the directions, but also to have someone to confide in. She was six too.
I just watched the clip above and I have to laugh at the media analyst talking about people wanting to be on TV. I wonder if he counts? Or the news anchor? They ARE on TV after all.
The dad is so crazy. I have no idea how to help children in a situation like this. I hope CPS acts accordingly in their best interest. I would think that both parents are looking at some jail time. Maybe not, maybe the mom will end up on some sort of probation or something. It was all so insane.
People , why are we even giving these people our time now, there is a war going on , people are jobless,people losing their homes ,etc…….Just lock these people up and be done with it. Why do simple things take so long in America. Now these criminals are getting what they wanted , your time.
Hi Gregg,
Welcome to Imperfect Women. We talk about a variety of things here because – well that is kind of what this site is about.
It kind of looks like the criminals got a piece of your time also.
We appreciate your comment and hope you stop by again.