Cops: 6-year-old takes off in family's experimental helium-balloon craft

FORT COLLINS. Colo. - Authorities were trying to determine Thursday how to safely bring down a 6-year-old boy who reportedly clambered into his family's experimental balloon-powered aircraft and floated away from home, sheriff's officials said.

Deputy: Object seen falling from balloon

During a live interview, Falcon said he had heard his family calling his name.

"You did?" the boy's mother, Mayumi Heene, said.

"Why didn't you come out?" Richard Heene said.

Falcon answered, "You had said that we did this for a show."

Looks like trouble for the Heene's:

Sheriff: Charges will be filed in balloon saga

Records show that police have responded to the house at least twice in the past year, including a possible domestic violence incident in February. No charges were filed.
Alderden said officials tried Saturday to persuade Mayumi Heene, 45, to go to a safe house, but she declined.
"We talked to her at length about domestic violence, about her safety, about her children's safety," the sheriff said. "We have a concern, but we didn't have enough that would allow us or child protective services to physically take the kids from that environment."
Alderden said the children were still with the parents Sunday morning, and child protective services had been contacted to investigate the children's well-being.
"Clearly, from all indications, Mr. Heene has somewhat of a temper," Alderden said.
As to the hoax that could end up with one or both in prison:

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado parents who reported their 6-year-old son floated away in a helium balloon in what authorities say was a hoax to drum up publicity for a TV show will both plead guilty to charges in the case, the attorney for the boy's father said Thursday.

Richard Heene, 48, will plead guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, a felony, his attorney David Lane said. Mayumi Heene, 45, will plead guilty to false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor.

Prosecutors have agreed to allow both to serve probation sentences, Lane said. Prosecutors did not immediately return a phone message Thursday morning. Mayumi Heene's attorney, Lee Christian, also did not return a call.

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I love it. Let's protect the children by placing them into a group home and separating them. This way, when they're raped or abused by the other children in the group home, they won't have their family to support them.

Perfect.