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| US balloon boy case 'was a hoax' | US balloon boy case 'was a hoax' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A US sheriff has said the case of six-year-old Falcon Heene who was believed to be adrift in a hot air balloon, prompting a major alert, was a hoax. | |
| Sheriff Jim Alderden said the parents of the boy were actors and had put on a "good show for us, and we bought it". | Sheriff Jim Alderden said the parents of the boy were actors and had put on a "good show for us, and we bought it". |
| Falcon's disappearance became a media drama, but he was later found at home. | Falcon's disappearance became a media drama, but he was later found at home. |
| Sheriff Alderden said as yet there had been no arrests but possible charges included conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. | Sheriff Alderden said as yet there had been no arrests but possible charges included conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. |
| Some of the most serious charges each carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 (£305,00) fine. | |
| Sheriff Alderden said at first the parents' acting abilities had made them appear credible to the police. | |
| But it had become clear when the son referred to his hiding in the attic as part of "a show" during a television interview that they were not telling the the truth. | |
| He said the house of Richard and Mayumi Heene has been searched for evidence that the family was hoping to use the incident to obtain a lucrative contract for a television reality. | |
| The family has made previous appearances on a US reality show, Wife Swap. |