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US balloon boy parents are jailed US balloon boy parents are jailed
(10 minutes later)
A US man who triggered a major alert by claiming his son was adrift in a helium balloon has been sentenced to 90 days in jail - and his wife to 20.A US man who triggered a major alert by claiming his son was adrift in a helium balloon has been sentenced to 90 days in jail - and his wife to 20.
Richard and Mayumi Heene reported in October their son had been carried away by the balloon - causing a media drama. Richard Heene, 48, and his 45-year-old wife Mayumi said in October their son had been carried off by the balloon.
Six-year-old Falcon Heene was finally found hiding at home.Six-year-old Falcon Heene was finally found hiding at home.
Appearing in court in Colorado, Heene said he was "very, very sorry" and apologised to rescue workers and the local community. In court in Colorado, Heene appeared to fight back tears as he said he was "very, very sorry" and apologised to rescue workers and the local community.
The judge also ordered four years of supervised probation for the couple and banned them from receiving any form of financial benefit from the case.The judge also ordered four years of supervised probation for the couple and banned them from receiving any form of financial benefit from the case.
Heene and his wife Mayumi, 45, had pleaded guilty to charges that they carried out the balloon stunt to promote a reality TV show. Heene and his wife Mayumi had pleaded guilty to charges that they carried out the balloon stunt to promote a reality TV show.
'Wasted money''Wasted money'
The prosecutor had argued the couple should face time in jail to act as a deterrent to others who may be considering mounting similar stunts for financial gain and publicity.The prosecutor had argued the couple should face time in jail to act as a deterrent to others who may be considering mounting similar stunts for financial gain and publicity.
Prosecutors had asked for a jail sentence to deter othersProsecutors had asked for a jail sentence to deter others
He said Heene had "wasted a lot of man power and a lot of money in wanting to get himself some publicity".He said Heene had "wasted a lot of man power and a lot of money in wanting to get himself some publicity".
He argued that the couple had acted not on the behest of any TV companies but that "they came up with it all on their own, not necessarily just to get a TV show but at least to put their name out there again and maybe in hopes that somebody would pick them up". He argued that the couple had acted not on the behest of any TV companies, but that "they came up with it all on their own, not necessarily just to get a TV show but at least to put their name out there again and maybe in hopes that somebody would pick them up".
"For that," he said "they do need to be punished". "For that," he said, "they do need to be punished".
Richard Heene, 48, will be allowed to serve 60 days of his 90-day sentence on work release, allowing him to work as a construction contractor during the day, while spending the night in jail. Richard Heene will be allowed to serve 60 days of his 90-day sentence on release, allowing him to work as a construction contractor during the day, while spending the night in jail.
He will start serving his sentence on 11 January 2010. He will start his sentence on 11 January 2010.
Mayumi Heene will begin her sentence after her husband's to ensure their children are still cared for.Mayumi Heene will begin her sentence after her husband's to ensure their children are still cared for.
She will be permitted flexibility - for example her sentence can be spread over ten weekends. She will be permitted flexibility - for example her sentence can be spread over 10 weekends.
The judge also ruled that her husband must serve 100 hours of community service and write a letter of apology to the community and public service agencies which helped search for his son.The judge also ruled that her husband must serve 100 hours of community service and write a letter of apology to the community and public service agencies which helped search for his son.
The couple had already been ordered to pay $42,000 in restitution for the emergency services' rescue efforts. The couple have already been ordered to pay $42,000 (£26,000) in restitution for the emergency services' rescue efforts.