Balloon boy's dad gets home detention

• Tweet

FORT COLLINS, Colo., March 25 (UPI) -- A Colorado man who told police his 6-year-old son disappeared in a homemade balloon is completing his sentence with home detention, authorities said.

Larimer County authorities said Richard Heene will wear an electronic ankle device and remain at home at least 12 hours each day until April 4, CNN reported.

Heene was sentenced to 90 days in jail and four years probation after pleading guilty to attempting to influence a public servant.

Prosecutors said Heene and his wife Mayumi staged their son Falcon's disappearance in October because they wanted to star in a reality show.

The incident had authorities racing to track the runaway balloon but when it finally came down the boy was not inside.

Authorities later discovered the episode was staged.

Mayumi Heene is to spend 20 days in jail after her husband's sentence ends.