Balloon Boy's Parents To Face Federal Charges

Photo courtesy of ABC.com.

Sheriff confirms Balloon Boy "hoax" and "publicity stunt."

Not only did the world watch in worry last Thursday at footage of the runaway weather balloon that was said to contain six-year-old Falcon Heene, but thousands of taxpayers' dollars were spent on the rescue and commercial flights were delayed before the boy was found in his parents' home.

The Heene family has been found out as hoaxers, according to Colorado's Larimer County sheriff Jim Alderden. After live newscasts revealed the family didn't have their collective stories straight and news sources found out that the family had been pitching reality television shows to national networks, police directed the Heenes out of their home for interviews while other investigators raided their property with a search warrant. They emerged with boxes and computers.

Richard and Mayumi Heene are likely to be slapped with felony charges for deliquency of a minor, says Sheriff Alderden. They could be jailed for six years and be forced to pay a $500,000 fine. They may receive multiple other charges stemming from the Federal Aviation Administration's involvement as well as misdemeanor charges involving reporting falsely to authorities. Just two military helicopters involved in the rescue cost a reported $14,500.

No shock that Richard and Mayumi Heene reportedly married after meeting in an acting class. They passed on their wacky acting to their kids -- see footage of Falcon Heene throwing up on the Today show as his dad keeps talking and his siblings giggle.

Get more background on our Balloon Boy story here.