Balloon Boy Parents to Enter Guilty Pleas
[Guest post by DRJ]
According to the Denver Post, the balloon boy’s parents will enter guilty pleas tomorrow morning:
“Heene will plead guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, and Larimer County prosecutors have “stipulated to a sentence of probation,” attorney David Lane said in a media release.
Heene and his wife, Mayumi, are scheduled to appear in District Court in Larimer County at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
Mayumi will plead guilty of false reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor, Lane said.
The plea agreement does “carry the possibility of up to 90 days in jail for Richard and 60 days for Mayumi,” Lane said.”
In a media statement released by one of the defense attorneys, Mayumi’s plea to a misdemeanor makes it possible for her to avoid deportation to her native Japan, despite the fact that she made “incriminating statements” that could be used to obtain a felony conviction. Richard Heene, however, “would have to fall on his sword and take a felony plea despite the fact that he made no incriminating statements to law enforcement.”
— DRJ
A felony? Law enforcement needs to get over themselves.
happyfeet (b919e7) — 11/12/2009 @ 7:49 pmWhy? How much did these two idiots cost the taxpayers? If you steal something worth over a certain amount, say $300.00, it’s a felony. If you steal something worth fifty-nine cents and then you steal something worth fifty-nine cents again, that’s a felony too.
Although this case does call for something other than jailtime. Public whipping with a rawhide whip, stocks and pillories, come to mind.
nk (df76d4) — 11/13/2009 @ 4:01 amI’d give her 60 days in the slammer, and at least a year for Mr Wonderful, stagger the terms to keep one parent with the kids. Plus, they pick up the full tab.
ropelight (5cd1fc) — 11/13/2009 @ 5:52 amdeport her to Japan, and send the him and the kids with her.
end of problem.
redc1c4 (fb8750) — 11/13/2009 @ 6:06 amAwwww, come on you guys… how about a fine that staggers them into poverty (and they still have to pay) AND pay the full costs of the “search” AND pay the full cost of the networks hullabaloo over this travesty? THEN tar and feather them. Your other “solutions” are just wayyyyyy to easy. 🙂
GM Roper (85dcd7) — 11/13/2009 @ 6:13 amThose poor kids, props for their loser parents.
They lost more than anyone in this deal, but Mom and Dad have to pay.
Matador (e01f85) — 11/13/2009 @ 6:52 amThey threatened to deport her? And break up the family? If only she were a violent felon here illegally, she wouldn’t have any problem at all.
brobin (c07c20) — 11/13/2009 @ 8:08 amTough cookies. She’s been married to an American citizen for at least three years which means she could already be a U.S. citizen if she wanted to. If she wants to stay Japanese, she takes her chances.
nk (df76d4) — 11/13/2009 @ 8:26 amnk, you have a point.
I also don’t really see the problem with calling this a felony. It’s a huge deal to call the cops when you know you’re lying, but taking that to this level is really beyond even that. They knew that they were taking emergency services away from at least a couple of people. Also, they knew they were costing the people a heck of a lot of money. And they did this for personal financial gain.
How long they wind up behind bars is up to the lawyers. A shame. I think a jury should have had a chance to decide this, but these fools were smart to avoid that.
Of course we should deport the wife. She lies to the police in an investigation to locate her son. She is not a good person. We should allow any good person, who follows to rules, a chance to be an American. But she just is not fit to be one.
Dustin (bb61e3) — 11/13/2009 @ 8:30 amOf course we should deport the wife. She lies to the police in an investigation to locate her son. She is not a good person. We should allow any good person, who follows to rules, a chance to be an American. But she just is not fit to be one.
The Emperor (82e13a) — 11/13/2009 @ 9:00 amA little harsh, don’t you think, Dustin? Surely there are other ways to punish her without separating her from her family. I think the 60 day sentence and a fine would be sufficient. They are already suffering from the disgrace this has become. It’s a big shame.
So “attempting to influence a public servant” is a felony?
I better be careful next time I write my Congressman! But I guess since he always ignores me I’m not really “attempting to influence a public servant.”
Hank Archer (d8389b) — 11/13/2009 @ 9:29 amEmperor, I think it is harsh. I also think it’s justified. I want a very open and fair immigration policy, and I also want people who break our laws to be kicked right back out.
This woman committed a serious offense.
I do not see why she must be separated from her kids, but that’s the way it is for lots of people. Our soldiers, divorcees, other felons who are in prison… She actually has the freedom to take them with her.
But anyway, my best defense to your thoughtful charge is that, quite obviously, separating this woman from her kids is the right thing to do, from the point of view of helping these kids. This woman committed a particularly awful abuse of her child, in her effort to make money. She has permanently damaged her child, and surely will have the ability and intent to do it again and again.
Dustin (bb61e3) — 11/13/2009 @ 9:41 amDustin.
The Emperor (82e13a) — 11/13/2009 @ 9:58 amI agree with you. She is not fit to be a mother. Using those kids that way to attract attention and possibly earn some bucks is a classic case of parental abuse. But I ask you. What if she was a freeborn American? How else would she be punished?
Emperor, you’re right… the justice system that I envision would treat aspiring American citizens a lot differently than actual citizens (not really based on their birthplace… I do not see naturalized citizens as any different than born ones).
I actually don’t mind the idea of exiling serious criminals, either. but for much more serious crimes than this.
Anyone who wants to be an immigrant to this country, or visit it, should be held to a very high standard of conduct if they want to stay. There are a lot of good reasons for this. They had a choice to come here and place themselves under that scrutiny. Andrew Sullivan should be deported. Illegal aliens should be deported. People who lie to cops should be deported. People who drive recklessly or drunk should be deported.
It’s a different treatment partly because citizenship has to have some kind of meaning.
Dustin (bb61e3) — 11/13/2009 @ 10:09 am#14
The Emperor (82e13a) — 11/13/2009 @ 10:35 amI think the blame lies more on her husband who initiated the crime. I think she was simply playing the part of supportive and loving wife who obeys without question, her husband. Something she must have picked up from her home country. I blame Richard Heene. His wife also for being an accomplice. And I think the recommended sentence is appropriate punishment. I also support the depotation of immigrants who abuse the privilege. But for more serious offences.