Mayumi Heene Admits Balloon Boy Hoax

Mayumi Heene, wife of Richard Heene and mother of "Balloon Boy" Falcon Heene, has confessed to lying to authorities and that the now-infamous October 15 incident was "intentional as a hoax," according to the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

The mother of the six-year-old temporarily believed to be hurtling into the heavens in a 20-foot Mylar balloon signed an affidavit that it was all staged.

In the affidavit, Mayumi Heene said she and her husband knew all along that Falcon was not on the balloon but rather hiding in the attic the whole time.

The motive for the hoax was to make their family, which appeared on Wife Swap and was angling for their own show "marketable for future media interest."

Even though Mayumi has confessed, Richard Heene's criminal fate is still "up in the air," according to a Denver defense attorney not involved with the case.

A week ago Thursday, viewers around the globe watched a saucer-shaped craft that was supposedly carrying Falcon Heene, who later came out of hiding.

Mayumi Heene, top left, told officers they planned the Balloon Boy hoax for two weeks, and not only that, they built the balloon specifically for the stunt.

She even admitted that both she and Richard Heene had instructed their three boys – Bradford, 10, Ryo, 8, and Falcon – to lie to authorities after the fact.

Falcon kinda blew it on CNN the night of, but nice try.

The Larimer County District Attorney could file formal charges against the Heenes at any time, including class four felonies: contributing to the delinquency of a minor, attempting to influence a public servant and conspiracy.

The charges, if they are filed, could bring 6-12 years in prison and fines up to $500,000. If convicted, they also could owe an unknown amount of restitution.

Declaring bankruptcy won't wash away debt owed to the rescuers that wasted hundreds of thousands to save Falcon: that cannot be discharged until paid.

Looks like if the Heenes were seeking fame and riches from this, they got it half right. Eh, not really, even the fame they achieved is entirely negative.