Posted Feb 7th 2010 12:14PM by TMZ Staff
Balloon Dad Richard Heene has left the Larimer County Detention Center in Fort Collins, Co. -- but only so that he can check in to the Alternative Sentencing Unit (ASU), which is about 30 seconds away.
An officer at the prison tells TMZ that Heene has been transferred to the ASU, but couldn't elaborate further.
There are several different programs at the ASU in which Heene can participate in to serve out the remainder of his sentence -- including work release (he would leave for work but check back in at night), workenders (inmates report on Saturday and Sunday and are taken out on supervised crews to perform Community Service work) or even electronic home monitoring.
Heene was sentenced to 90 days behind bars following that whole balloon episode we'd all rather forget.
UPDATE -- After Heene was transferred to the ASU, his loving wife Mayumi showed up to pay him a visit. Mayumi has 20 days to serve in jail for her role in the fiasco. She'll serve her time after Richard serves his.
Filed under: Exclusives, Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, balloon dad, BalloonBoy, BalloonDad, mayumi, richard heene, RichardHeene
Posted Jan 11th 2010 12:00PM by TMZ Staff
If you've ever wondered what regret looks like ... take a look at Richard Heene's newest mug shot.
Heene was photographed today after turning himself in to the Larimer County Detention Center, where he was sentenced to spend 90 days behind bars.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives, Balloon Boy
Posted Jan 11th 2010 11:40AM by TMZ Staff
This is the last outfit Richard Heene decided to wear before his wardrobe turns to orange.
Heene just turned himself in to the Larimer County Detention Center -- he'll see his Rocky beanie again in about 30 days ... when he'll be eligible for a work release program.
But for now, instead of calling him That Guy Who Put His Kid in Danger Just to So He Can Try and Get a Reality Show ... you can call him Inmate #1279435.
Filed under: Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, BalloonBoy, Larimer County Detention Center, LarimerCountyDetentionCenter, richard heene, RichardHeene
Posted Jan 11th 2010 8:22AM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE: Heene checked in at 8:40 AM MST.
Richard Heene won't have to worry about the "shower situation" in lockdown -- TMZ has learned dude will get to shower alone.
Heene has roughly an hour to check himself into Larimer County Detention Center -- where he will begin his 90-day sentence for being a hoax-running, resource-abusing d-bag.
We're told Balloon Dad has quite a schedule when he arrives at the jail -- starting with a 72 hour evaluation where authorities will decide where to put the guy.
Heene will also be issued his orange uniform.
As for the food -- Heene will eat breakfast at 6:15 AM every morning. Lights out is at 10:30 PM.
At least he'll be eating like true royalty -- his first meal is turkey a la king with rice.
Bon appetit.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives, Balloon Boy
Tags: bon appetit, BonAppetit, colorado, jail, larimer county detention center, LarimerCountyDetentionCenter, mayumi, richard heene, RichardHeene
Posted Jan 9th 2010 10:31AM by TMZ Staff
Just in time for Oscar season, the Heene family released a video that shows them reacting as the balloon they thought (not really) their son was in floated away.
The family gave the video to CNN, which aired it during "The Situation Room" yesterday.
Richard Heene was sentenced to 90 days in jail for his role in the hoax. Mayumi got 20 days.
Note: Before, when we said Oscars ... we meant Razzies.
Filed under: TV, Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, BalloonBoy, falcon, hoax, mayumi, richard heen, RichardHeen, video
Posted Dec 23rd 2009 12:02PM by TMZ Staff
UPDATE: Mayumi Heene was sentenced to 20 days in jail for her role, which she'll serve after her husband completes his time.
Richard Heene -- the moron behind the Balloon Boy hoax -- was just sentenced to 90 days in jail for his role in the October incident.
The judge has allowed Heene to serve 60 of the 90 days on a "work-release program" -- in which he'll be allowed to seek work as a construction contractor while doing his time.
Richard was also ordered to 4 years probation. The judge also imposed a condition forbidding Richard from profiting from the Balloon Boy hoax during the four year period of his probation.
During the hearing, Heene appeared to be choking back tears and he apologized for the incident.
Heene will begin his sentence on January 11, 2010.
Heene's wife, Mayumi, is expected to learn her fate any minute.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Balloon Boy
Posted Dec 22nd 2009 2:40PM by TMZ Staff
The two morons behind that terrible "Balloon Boy" stunt are finally going to have to pay the price for all of their dumbassery -- a cool $42,000.
The Larimer County District Attorney's office claims it sent the bill to Richard and Mayumi Heene -- demanding the couple pay restitution to the agencies which took part in the rescue attempt when they thought 6-year-old Falcon Heene had gone airborne in a massive Jiffy Pop-style hot air balloon.
According to the Denver Post, the DA claims the Heene's $42k will go towards the police, the national guard and the Federal Aviation Administration -- who all played a role on October 15.
A lawyer for the Heenes claims they won't pay a cent until they see receipts and records -- we're pretty sure there's no shortage of TV footage.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, balloon dad, BalloonBoy, BalloonDad, larimer county district attorney, LarimerCountyDistrictAttorney, mayumi heene, MayumiHeene, richadr heene, RichadrHeene
Posted Nov 19th 2009 4:47PM by TMZ Staff
Richard Heene and his overexposed balloon family took a break from televised interviews to do a little sightseeing at the Statue of Liberty on Thursday.
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled convicted felon con artists yearning to be famous..."
Filed under: Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, BalloonBoy, Richard Heene, RichardHeene, Statue of Liberty, StatueOfLiberty
Posted Nov 17th 2009 1:10PM by TMZ Staff
Far be it from ABC to pay for interviews -- something they say they don't do -- but they will pay to stuff the stomachs of those they interview and then drive them comfortably to their hotel ... which is exactly what happened with the Heene family last night.
We got the entire Balloon Family out for a fabulous sushi dinner at Ocean Grill in NYC.
Sources told TMZ that ABC paid the tab. We contacted ABC and they acknowledged they broke tuna rolls with the Balloons and did foot the bill.
Now here's the best part -- a source at GMA says, "We did not pay for a limo to drive them around the city. We did have a car service (SUV) take the family as they required a bigger car. "
Filed under: Exclusives, Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, balloon dad, BalloonBoy, BalloonDad, falcon heene, FalconHeene, mayumi heene, MayumiHeene, new york, NewYork, richard heene, RichardHeene
Posted Nov 13th 2009 12:20PM by TMZ Staff
For a convicted felon, Richard Heene claims he has some serious job opportunities flyin' in from N.Y. -- where there isn't a high demand for carpenters or balloon builders ... you know what they do need?
TV show guests...
In court today, Richard Heene's lawyer told the judge that Balloon Dad wanted to roll to NYC -- to seek "an opportunity for employment" in the next week ... while he still happens to be relevant.
The lawyer also stated that Heene, "has other plans to go to California." Of course he does...
Wonder if he'll wind up on "Entertainment Something."
UPDATE -- Heene's lawyer tells TMZ his trips to NY and Cali are not for media interviews and that he has advised his client to "shut up."
Filed under: TV, Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, BalloonBoy, falcon heene, FalconHeene, hoax, richard heene, RichardHeene, tv
Posted Nov 13th 2009 10:46AM by TMZ Staff
Richard and Mayumi Heene just pled guilty to a felony and misdemeanor charge, respectively, stemming from the Balloon Boy hoax.
Neither will be sentenced today. Another hearing has been set for December 23.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, balloon dad, BalloonBoy, BalloonDad, falcon, guilty, hoax, plea, plead, pled, richard heene, RichardHeene
Posted Nov 12th 2009 2:48PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned Richard Heene is currently in police custody, and his wife Mayumi is expected to turn herself in shortly.
Richard's attorney announced earlier today that Richard will plead guilty tomorrow to attempting to influence a public servant -- a felony -- and Mayumi will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities -- a misdemeanor.
The lawyer also said the Heenes aren't expected to do jail time.
UPDATE: Richard has been released. We're told Mayumi will not be booked because her charge is a misdemeanor.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Balloon Boy
Tags: ballon dad, BallonDad, balloon boy, BalloonBoy, police custody, PoliceCustody, richard heene, RichardHeene
Posted Nov 12th 2009 12:38AM by TMZ Staff
Those awful Balloon Boy parents are finally going to fess up to what we've all suspected for weeks -- that they're guilty of engineering the entire hoax.
Richard Heene's attorney issued a statement explaining how Richard will plead guilty Friday morning to an offense of attempting to influence a public servant -- a felony. His wife, Mayumi, will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities -- a misdemeanor.
The Heenes could receive jail time for the charges stemming from the infamous Oct. 15 incident, but Richard's attorney claims the prosecutor has only recommended probation.
The attorney also claims the couple agreed to the deal because Mayumi was afraid of being deported. The lawyer explained that she's currently a Japanese citizen and "any felony conviction or certain misdemeanors would result in her deportation, even though her husband and children are Americans."
Wonder if they would send her back in a balloon?
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Balloon Boy
Tags: balloon boy, BalloonBoy, guilty, hoax, mayumi, misdemeanor, richard heene, RichardHeene
