October 18, 20

BALLOON BOY HOAX A CRIME

Americans everywhere were glued to television sets Thursday afternoon watching a runaway saucer-shaped balloon -- said to be carrying a 6-year-old boy named Falcon Heene -- waft across northern Colorado.

His two older brothers said they had seen Falcon earlier crawl into the tiny gondola and tug on anchoring ropes.

The Colorado Air National Guard launched a Black Hawk helicopter to provide protective cover.  Sheriff chase-cars raced ahead to head off highway traffic.  Commercial airline flights were diverted at Denver Air Port.

A deputy said he saw something fall from the balloon’s tiny, enclosed, gondola.  A nation of television onlookers gasped: “Oh, no!”

When the balloon finally touched down in a wheat field, the gondola was found empty.  Our worst fear seemed confirmed.

However, shortly thereafter, young Falcon crawled from a box in the attic of the family garage where he had been hiding.

He said, “I played with my toys and took a nap.”

FRAUD EVIDENCE

Now, two days later, we learn from Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden:

“We have evidence to indicate it was a publicity stunt done with the hope of his father and mother to market themselves to a reality television show sometime in the future.”

The parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, have not been arrested.  However, Sheriff Alderden said charges are being considered of three felonies – conspiracy between Mr. and Mrs. Heene to commit a crime, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and attempting to influence a public servant.

The latter charge carries a prison term of six years, and a fine of $500,000.

Sheriff Alderden says his conclusions are based on separate interviews of the Heenes and their three children.  In addition to 6-year-old Falcon, they have two older sons.

Alderden said a Class 3 misdemeanor “hardly seems serious enough, given the circumstances.  We are talking to the district attorney and federal officials, to see if perhaps there aren’t additional federal charges appropriate in this circumstance.”

FIRST CALL

According to The American Broadcasting Company -- which has featured the Keenes on several occasions – Richard Heene is a former television weatherman.  He has submitted -- to CNN Reports -- accounts of his sons helping him chase Hurricane Gustav.

It is interesting to note that Mr. Heene first called a local television station to report his balloon and son were “missing.”

STORM CHASERS

Falcon’s father, Richard Heene, a professional “storm chaser,” says his youngest son had hidden in the garage attic because, “I had yelled at him.”

The little boy told reporters later: “I played with my toys and took a nap.”

Falcon said in a CNN interview that he heard his parents call for him from the garage.  When asked by his father, on-air, why he did not respond, Falcon replied: “You guys said we did this for the show.”

When the interviewer, Wolf Blitzer, pressed Mr. Heene for an explanation of “the show,” the latter said he was “appalled” by the question and said his son was likely referring to all the media.

Thereafter, Heene demanded that journalists write their questions and drop the queries in a box for later answers.

FLYING SAUCER

Mr. and Mrs. Heene are professional climatologists known for chasing and photographing tornadoes.  Often they take along their sons on the expeditions.

They devote their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extra-terrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of a storm.

Mr. and Mrs. Henne were featured on the 100th episode of ABC’s prime-time program “Wife Swap” (one week) last March.

By Lindsey Wilger Williams, retired newspaper publisher and syndicated columnist