Balloon Boy Dad Is Back

FORT COLLINS – The Colorado man who pleaded guilty to falsely influencing the sheriff by saying his son had floated off in a runaway balloon is completing his sentence at home.

Larimer County sheriff’s spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said Wednesday that Richard Heene finished his time in jail and with a work-release unit. He was moved earlier this month to home detention and is wearing an ankle monitor.

Heene started serving a 90-day sentence Jan. 11. His wife, Mayumi, pleaded guilty to filing a false report and must serve 20 days in jail.

Sheriff’s officials say the couple’s report Oct. 15 that their young son had floated away in a UFO-shaped helium balloon was a hoax.