Mayumi, left, and Richard Heene arrive at district court in Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, with attorney Dave Lane, center. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)

The Heenes arrive at court. (Ed Andrieski/AP)

By Mark Memmott

KUSA-TV in Denver is webcasting, and the national news networks are going live as well, as "balloon boy" parents Richard and Mayumi Heene appear in a Colorado court this hour to plead guilty to charges related to what turned out to be a nationally televised hoax last month when their homemade weather balloon soared over Fort Collins and six-year-old son Falcon was not aboard, as they had told authorities.

As we reported yesterday, the couple's lawyer says Richard Heene will plead guilty to a felony charge of attempting to influence a public servant and Mayumi Heene will plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of making a false report to authorities.

We'll update this post as the court appearance continues, so click your "refresh" button to make sure you're seeing our latest additions.

Update at 11:18 a.m. ET: And the Heenes' court proceeding just wrapped up. You can scroll down and read "up" to see what happened. The short version: Both Richard and Mayumi Heene, as expected, pleaded guilty to the charges against them -- effectively admitting that the whole thing was a hoax. Sentencing is set for Dec. 23.

Update at 11:15 a.m. ET: Judge Stephen Jon Schapanski just accepted Mayumi Heene's guilty plea. Her sentencing, like her husband's, will come on Dec. 23. And she too has been given permission to leave the state while out on bond.

Update at 11 a.m. ET: Mayumi Heene just acknowledged that she is pleading guilty to the misdemeanor charge -- and that she realizes there is the possibility that doing so could result in her being deported to her native Japan (though her lawyer says that is unlikely to happen). Mayumi Heene is not a U.S. citizen.

Update at 10:55 a.m. ET: Richard Heene's sentencing date was just set -- Dec. 23. As The Coloradoan reports, "the penalty range for a class 4 felony is two to six years in the Department of Corrections and a fine of $2,000 to $500,000." But, "according to the couple's lawyers, both will receive probation sentences, although Richard Heene also could get up to 90 days in jail and Mayumi 60 days."

Heene's lawyer has asked that he be allowed to travel to New York and California while out on bond, because he has the opportunity for some type of work. The judge says that's fine.

Update at 10:45 a.m. ET: Richard Heene is competent and his guilty plea is accepted, Judge Stephen Jon Schapanski just ruled.

Update at 10:41 a.m. ET: Richard Heene just told Judge Schapanski that he understands his guilty plea is an admission that he deliberately intended to deceive the local sheriff on the infamous day.

Heene also says he understands he may have to pay substantial restitution costs -- to cover the money spent by would-be rescuers that day.

Update at 10:35 a.m. ET: The Larimer County court is taking Richard Heene's case first. "We are prepared at this time to enter a plea of guilty" to the class 4 felony of attempting to influence a public servant, Heene's lawyer just said.

"That's correct," Heene just told District Court Judge Schapanski when asked if he intends to plead guilty.

Update at 10:27 a.m. ET. A moment of levity: A court official just told those in the room that they need to turn their cellphone ringers off, but that "you may Twitter if you want." That got some laughs.

categories: National News

10:18 - November 13, 2009

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