FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A Colorado sheriff says it was hoax when parents reported that their 6-year-old son was in a flying saucer-like helium balloon hurtling away from their home.

Sheriff Jim Alderden says Richard and Mayumi Heene "put on a very good show for us, and we bought it."

The sheriff says no charges have been filed yet, and the parents aren't under arrest. He says he expects to recommend charges of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities and attempting to influence a public servant.

Some of the most serious charges each carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

He says all three children knew of the Thursday hoax, but likely won't face charges because of their ages. The oldest son is 10.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — A sheriff says a Colorado couple's report that their 6-year-old son was in a balloon that was hurtling away from their home was a publicity stunt.

Sheriff Jim Alderden says Richard and Mayumi Heene "put on a very good show for us, and we bought it."

The sheriff says no charges have been filed yet, and the parents aren't under arrest. But he says he expects to recommend charges of conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Alderden says interviews with the parents Saturday resulted in enough information to get a warrant to search the house. He says they were looking for computers, e-mails, phone records and financial records.


..This is only the most recent news, and we know news can change...Im just curious to hear what they have found to decide to press charges...

Someones got a hot date with county

I think a lot of it is they just want someone to fork over all the money for the manpower and time.

The three blackhawk helicopters used run at $1450 an hour, they were in the air for 3 hours a piece.

The Commanche helicopter (police helicopter) costs about $750 an hour to run, 4 hours air time.

The Cesna airplane that followed the ballon, cheap at only $70 an hour.

Then you add patrol cars, individual officers that could have been used better by just being in traffic, the fact that they mobilized some National Guardsmen, you know that someone has to get blamed.

Me, I don't know why they had this big saucer ballon to begin with, but I find it hare to believe that the parents were in on it. I'm thinking the kids were playing, and the one that was hiding in the attic was probably the one that cut loose the teather. He figured he was in real trouble and hid. As a child I'd of done the same.

In situations of hoax, the state will be required to prove malice of for thought. I don't think that this would be the case here.

Of course I've been wrong before.

From the start I said it was a hoax as I did not believe the parents and the whole story had too many holes in it such as how did the boy get there, a long time for the boy to be hiding for doing nothing wrong, the recovery of the balloon......etc . The Authorities were dumb ***** to have believed the father and mother but from the interviews....etc it became clear it was a hoax . I hope the parents will be jailed for this mischievous claim and all the resources wasted . The parents are nuts to say the least .

Actually that is what I originally thought myself until it showed video of that parents launching the thing themselves, and then the kid accidentally telling the truth and the father really freaked out then. He was stumbling all over the place trying to fix that one. At this point in time I find the parents lied, mostly I think the father, the rest did as the father instructed.

Personally I feel for those kids. I don't think jailing the parents is helpful but I do think they should pay for what they did in some way with out making their kids suffer for what they did.

The father reportedly believes in reptilian aliens so I think that's cool about him