Balloon Boy Dad Sentenced to Jail, Probation

Following a stunning hoax that captured the nation, Richard Heene has been convicted and will face jail time for what is known as the "Balloon Boy" incident.

Richard Heene once pitched a reality show centered around a family run by a mad scientist. He'll have some time in jail to think of a new show. Heene, the mastermind behind the "Balloon Boy" hoax, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and 60 days of work release. After pleading guilty, Heene will also be on probation for at least four years and not allowed to profit from the "Balloon Boy" incident in any way. In October 2009, Heene called the police and television stations claiming that his six year-old son, Falcon, was caught in an experimental balloon that had launched from his Fort Collins, Colorado home. Heene claimed his son climbed into the basket without his knowledge prior to the launch. Major news networks like CNN followed the balloon, which had sailed thousands of feet above the earth's surface. Some even speculated that the shadow of a dropped object was Heene's son. When the balloon landed, Falcon was nowhere to be found; instead, Heene claimed that he was hiding in the home's attic. The hoax was revealed after live television interviews revealed mixed stories. Falcon even threw up twice during interviews. He even alluded that his dad told him to hide "for the show." Heene's Japanese wife, Mayumi, admitted to the hoax once she faced deportation charges based on the investigation. Her sentencing still awaits. Heene apologized for his actions, staying that he is "very, very, very sorry." UPDATE: Mayumi Heene will spend 20 days in jail, four years of supervised probation, and 120 hours of public service.