"Balloon Boy" Stunt Wasn't Cheap! Richard and Mayumi Heene Could Face $43,000 in Fines
Photo: Mayumi, left, and Richard Heene arrive at court on Nov. 13, 2009, with attorney Dave Lane, center.
PICTURES: The Bizarre "Balloon Boy" Incident
Audio: Richard Heene's Frantic 911 Call
Sheriff's officials in Larimer County are still adding up the costs, but a spokeswoman says Richard and Mayumi Heene could face $43,000 in restitution.
The Colorado couple also faces the possibility of jail time for fabricating a story about their 6-year-old son floating off in a runaway balloon to gain publicity.
Photo: Clockwise from back left, Richard, Mayumi, Ryan, Falcon and Bradford are shown at their Fort Collins, Colo. home on Nov. 15, 2008.
"I'm going to demand to see the receipts that they claim are owed and let's see what they can prove," Richard Heene's attorney David Lane said Monday.
The Associated Press reports law enforcement agencies spent more than $21,000. It cost about $16,000 for two National Guard helicopters to track the balloon and more than $8,000 in damage was done to the field where the balloon landed. The Associated Press estimates are greater than the amount officials have said they may charge the Heenes.
Now, it's up to a judge to decide if the Heenes will have to pay back the money it cost to try to rescue a boy that police, and America, thought was in trouble.
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PICTURES: The Bizarre "Balloon Boy" Incident
Audio: Richard Heene's Frantic 911 Call
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