Lawyer: 'Balloon boy' parents to plead guilty

[Lerkfish]

Source: CNN

Mayumi Heene is expected to plead guilty to an offense of false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor of the lowest level, according to the attorney.
Richard Heene is expected to plead guilty to a felony offense of attempting to influence a public servant.
Though the Heenes could receive jail time for the charges, the prosecutor has recommended probation, Richard Heene's attorney said.
The threat of deportation for Mayumi Heene was a factor in the plea deal negotiation, the attorney's statement said.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/12/balloon.boy.charges/index.html

[Lerkfish]

1. so the husband is an idiot, but the possible victim of domestic abuse is threatened

to be deported?

weird.

[imdjh]

3. Did I miss something? What's the domestic abuse angle?

And how would that affect her immigration status?

[Lerkfish]

5. police were called to their house in the past for domestic violence, which the mother

refused to press charges.

and, youre right, that would not affect her deportation, but I'm making the point she is victimized by both the husband, the situation, and the leverage they used to wring out a confession.

I was just having compassion for her.... sorry about that.

[Gedankenaustausch]

14. I don't know

what the law is where they're from, but I know that where I'm from, when the police are called for 'domestic violence' the victim is unable to drop the charges. This is to stop the guilty feeling victim from dropping the charges that comes after many domestic violence incidents. She may have not pressed charges, but I think if the law is the same here she would have not been able to drop the charges after they were filed.

[mopinko]

18. not a common law.

i know that is not the law here. i see the point, but i think the unintended consequences are there. would be interested in stats on how this has worked out.

[imdjh]

20. huffpo has sheriff saying , "called to the house.... including POSSIBLE domestic violence..."

[Gedankenaustausch]

33. ok

thanx for clarifying.

[stray cat]

4. Committing crimes is not smart if you are here illegally

[Lerkfish]

6. is she here illegally?

I've seen nothing that indicates that.

[Bonobo]

8. She must only have a green card.

If she gets divorced, she loses it and is out.

[Lerkfish]

9. are green cards illegal?

I don't think so.

[Bonobo]

11. Of course not.

Poster above doesn't know what they are talking about.

[GOTV]

12. According to the article, she is not here illegally but ...

... she is not a citizen either and felony's and certain misdemeanors can get non-citizens deported despite having family here.

[LisaL]

42. It doesn't mean she is here illegaly.

Because she is not a citizen, she can be deported if convicted of a felony, even if she is here legally.

[left coaster]

19. ahh.. I think the person here illegally is the victime of the crime..

..not the perp (the domestic violence)..


Except for the balloon ruse incident, of course.. :)

[trumad]

2. Now make them pay for the expense of the fiasco...

[Botany]

7. The civil suits are going to be brutal

I think they are in for some awesome civil suits too.

Let me see shutting down Denver Airport for 2.5 hours that alone could be in the millions.

[Jefferson23]

10. I feel bad for their children, they are stuck with two idiot's for parents.

[Scratchee]

34. No apostrophe in "idiot's". Makes you sound like a...

[Jefferson23]

35. Welcome to DU Scratchee's.

[Regret My New Name]

38. if you were going with 'idiot'....

Wouldn't that be: "makes you sound like an...."??????

[NeoConsSuck]

40. It makes you sound like

AN...

[Orrex]

13. Can they be barred from profitiing from the hoax?

That is, can they be prevented from securing lucrative book deals, or from making compensated appearances on Larry King and the like?

[David Zephyr]

30. Exactly, otherwise they got what they were after.

.

[derby378]

15. Lest we forget...

...here's Richard Heene from his first appearance on Wife Swap:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsoXuNytToQ

:eyes:

[Cass]

29. Wow, Richard Heene treated the other wife so badly.

:wow:

[chatnoir]

31. Omg, those kids are practically feral

Horrendous.

[JVS]

44. Wow! What an asshole!

[mstinamotorcity]

16. Got Off just

a little too easy. I don't think jail is the answer. But a stiff fine and some cleaning up along the highway might help pay for some of the cost for tying up community emergency resources. While someone could have truly been in trouble, they were extending themselves to a wild goose chase. Not good Mr. Henne. You get the Asshole of the Week award.

[Lerkfish]

17. as someone else pointed, this opens them up for civil penalties

I'm sure they'll be bankrupt by the time this is all over.

[mstinamotorcity]

28. Thats good to know

but don't you think seeing him on the highway picking up litter while people sing up and away in my beautiful balloon would have been nice. Or maybe they could have said what kind of balloon dad doesn't fly? I don't know but he needs a humiliating experience to bring some humbleness to his brain.

[onehandle]

21. Lawyer: Colo. balloon boy parents to plead guilty

Source: AP

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado parents who reported their 6-year-old son floated away aboard a helium balloon will plead guilty to some charges so that the family can stay together, the attorney for the boy's father said Thursday.

Richard Heene will plead guilty in the alleged Oct. 15 hoax to attempting to influence a public servant, a felony, his attorney David Lane said. Mayumi Heene — a Japanese citizen who could have been deported if convicted of more serious charges — will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor, he said.

The Larimer County district attorney's office announced the criminal charges against the Heenes on Thursday. Spokeswoman Linda Jensen said the office would not discuss whether a plea agreement had been reached.

The charge against Richard Heene carries a possible sentence of two to six years in state prison and a fine of up to $500,000, prosecutors said. His wife could face up to six months in county jail and a fine up to $750. Lane said he expects prosecutors to ask for jail time for both parents. He said under the conditions of the deal, Richard Heene could face up to 90 days in jail and Mayumi up to 60.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091112/ap_on_re_us/us_balloon_boy

[tblue]

22. Sounds about right. Hopefully, it's enough to teach them to never pull crap like this again.

[Taverner]

23. Personally I think having them pay for the services used would be punishment enough

Imagine a $1m bill over your head, that you make in 100 easy payments of $10K!!!


That will teach them

[Auggie]

24. And in no way should they be able profit from this

[Taverner]

25. Yep - but jail time? That won't do anyone any good - especially the kids

[Auggie]

26. No, no jail time.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

27. Jail time would be good.

I think the children would benefit from being apart from their parents for awhile. The children are being raised to be monsters.

[Blue_Tires]

39. +1

[Egnever]

32. Hmm I dont like this a bit.

This guy is obviously a dickhead but threatening his wife with deportation if he doesnt cop a plea is just ugly.

[LisaL]

41. Those are the laws-someone who is not citizen

if convicted of a felony can be deported.
I am not sure why you think the laws should be different for this woman.

[brooklynite]

36. Next Up: Kids do a reality show about living alone...

...while their parents are spending time in jail. I think Fox would pick it up for 13 weeks...

[Regret My New Name]

37. poor kids...

They're going to end up being punished the most because of their stupid parents. That whether the parents get jail time or just a hefty fine.

[mainer]

43. I was in the Netherlands, and they ALL know about Balloon Boy

It was an international sensation. Unfortunately Europeans consider it a "typically" American prank, that a family here would simply aspire to being on TV.

[JVS]

45. Have the kids been removed from their custody?

That family is fucked up.

[BenThere]

46. Can I sue them, too?

For wasting my time with their silly reality show crap stunt?

[Socal31]

47. I feel bad....

....for the children.