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Sheriff: Balloon boy hoax may have conspirators
2009-10-19
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The lawyer for the man accused of perpetrating the balloon boy hoax to promote a reality show said Monday that he expects authorities to bring charges against his client in the next day as investigators analyze e-mails that show Richard Heene and an associate discussing the stunt months ago. Muzi.com News 10094576-1 (muzi.com)"These folks are absolutely willing to turn themselves in, so I don't want to see a perp walk done for media consumption," lawyer David Lane said on the "Today" show on NBC as he made the rounds on the morning talk shows. Muzi.com News 10094576-2 (muzi.com) In addition to drawing up possible felony charges against Heene, investigators say they want to question an associate of his after e-mails surfaced showing the two had discussed a balloon hoax months ago as part of a public relations campaign for the reality show. Muzi.com News 10094576-3 (muzi.com) Robert Thomas of Denver claimed Heene had told him he was planning a media stunt to promote a proposed reality show. Thomas, a self-described researcher, sold his story to Gawker.com and provided the Web site with e-mail exchanges between him and Heene. Thomas said the show would feature Heene as a mad scientist who carries out various scientific experiments. Muzi.com News 10094576-4 (muzi.com) "This will be the most significant UFO-related news event to take place since the Roswell Crash of 1947, and the result will be a dramatic increase in local and national awareness about The Heene Family, our Reality Series, as well as the UFO Phenomenon in general," according to a copy of the show's proposal provided to the site by Thomas. Muzi.com News 10094576-5 (muzi.com) Gawker.com editor-in-chief Gabriel Snyder confirmed the New York-based Web site paid Thomas, but declined to say how much for the story billed with the headline: "Exclusive: I Helped Richard Heene Plan a Balloon Hoax." Muzi.com News 10094576-6 (muzi.com) Snyder said Thomas was planning to meet with investigators, though sheriff's officials did not return messages seeking confirmation. Muzi.com News 10094576-7 (muzi.com) Messages left for Thomas by The Associated Press were not returned. Muzi.com News 10094576-8 (muzi.com) Thomas, 25, said in his Gawker.com story that the plan he knew about did not involve Heene's children. Muzi.com News 10094576-9 (muzi.com) The alleged stunt temporarily shut down Denver International Airport, and the National Guard provided two helicopters in an attempt to rescue 6-year-old Falcon Heene, who was believed to be inside the flying-saucer shaped homemade balloon that hurtled more than 50 miles across two counties. Muzi.com News 10094576-10 (muzi.com) The drama played out on live television to millions of viewers worldwide. When the balloon landed without the boy, officials thought he had fallen out and began the grim search for his body. Muzi.com News 10094576-11 (muzi.com) Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden announced Sunday that he's seeking charges, including felonies, against Richard Heene and his wife, Mayumi. Alderden said the stunt two weeks in the planning was a marketing ploy by the Heenes, who met in acting school in Hollywood and have appeared on ABC's reality show "Wife Swap." Muzi.com News 10094576-12 (muzi.com) "We certainly know that there's a conspiracy between the husband and wife, you've probably seen some of the e-mails and some of the things on the Internet suggesting that there may be other conspirators," Alderden said. Muzi.com News 10094576-13 (muzi.com) Alderden said documents show that a media outlet has agreed to pay money to the Heenes with regard to the balloon incident. Alderden didn't name the media outlet but said it was a show that blurs "the line between entertainment and news." Muzi.com News 10094576-14 (muzi.com) It wasn't clear whether the deal was signed before or after the alleged hoax, or whether the media outlet was a possible conspirator. Muzi.com News 10094576-15 (muzi.com) "Let's call it (my statement) short of speculation that a media outlet was in on the hoax, but let's not discount the possibility," he said. Muzi.com News 10094576-16 (muzi.com) In an e-mail Sunday to the AP, Snyder said editors at Gawker.com had not contacted the Heene family or offered them money for their story, referring to Alderden's reference to a deal being struck by a media outlet. Muzi.com News 10094576-17 (muzi.com) "No, that wasn't us," Snyder said. Muzi.com News 10094576-18 (muzi.com) The parents weren't under arrest, the sheriff said. He said he expected to recommend charges of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities and attempting to influence a public servant. Federal charges were also possible. Muzi.com News 10094576-19 (muzi.com) The most serious charges are felonies and carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Alderden said they would be seeking restitution for the costs, though he didn't have an estimate. Muzi.com News 10094576-20 (muzi.com) The cost for just the two military helicopters was about $14,500. Muzi.com News 10094576-21 (muzi.com) As Alderden told reporters Sunday that the whole thing was a hoax, the Heenes were shopping for snacks at Wal-Mart, where Richard Heene told the AP he was "seeking counsel." Muzi.com News 10094576-22 (muzi.com) "This thing has become so convoluted," Heene said, tears welling in his eyes. He said his wife was holding together better than he was. Muzi.com News 10094576-23 (muzi.com) In a statement issued Sunday, Lane he has advised the family against making public statements and said Heene is willing to turn himself in. Muzi.com News 10094576-24 (muzi.com) "I don't think it's humane to arrest someone in front of their children," Lane also said Monday, appearing on "The Early Show" CBS. "We're not sure what charges he's looking at yet." Muzi.com News 10094576-25 (muzi.com) Once investigators got a good look at the "flying saucer" they determined that the thin mylar balloon covered with foil and held together with duct tape would not have been able to launch with the 37-pound-boy inside, according to Colorado State University physics professor Brian Jones. Muzi.com News 10094576-26 (muzi.com) Other parts of the story, including whether the 6-year-old had been hiding in the rafters of the family's garage during an intense five-hour search also weren't true, Alderden said. Muzi.com News 10094576-27 (muzi.com) "For all we know he may have been two blocks down the road playing on the swing in the city park," the sheriff said. Muzi.com News 10094576-28 (muzi.com) The sheriff said all three of the Heenes' sons knew of the hoax, but likely won't face charges because of their ages. The oldest son is 10. One of the boys told investigators he saw his brother get in the balloon's box before it launched. Muzi.com News 10094576-29 (muzi.com) Alderden said Heene, a 48-year-old storm chaser, inventor and self-described amateur scientist, has a high school education and most recently earned a living by laying tile. Muzi.com News 10094576-30 (muzi.com) Alderden said investigators had an "aha" moment that the story was a hoax when Falcon turned to his father during a CNN interview Thursday and said what sounded like "you had said we did this for a show" when asked why he didn't come out of his hiding place. Muzi.com News 10094576-31 (muzi.com) On Friday, Falcon got sick during two separate TV interviews when asked again why he hid. Muzi.com News 10094576-32 (muzi.com) Alderden said they didn't question the family Friday because they wanted to keep the family's cooperation by maintaining the appearance that they believed their story. Muzi.com News 10094576-33 (muzi.com) Records show that police have responded to the house at least twice in the past year, including a possible domestic violence incident in February. No charges were filed. Muzi.com News 10094576-34 (muzi.com) Alderden said officials tried Saturday to persuade Mayumi Heene, 45, to go to a safe house, but she declined. Muzi.com News 10094576-35 (muzi.com) Alderden said the children were still with the parents Sunday and that child protective services had been contacted to investigate their well-being. On "Wife Swap," Heene was portrayed as erratic, at one point throwing a glass of milk on a participant on the program. Muzi.com News 10094576-36 (muzi.com) "Clearly, from all indications, Mr. Heene has somewhat of a temper," Alderden said. Muzi.com News 10094576-37 (muzi.com) Lane described the Heenes as a loving family. Muzi.com News 10094576-38 (muzi.com) "I met the three boys and they were in my office yesterday for a good long time and I have three kids of my own ... and these are by all appearances well loved, well taken care of, well adjusted and happy little boys," Lane said on ABC's "Good Morning America." Muzi.com News 10094576-39 (muzi.com)
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