CBS News
Richard and Mayumi Heene will plead guilty Friday to charges stemming from last month’s Balloon Boy hoax, the couple’s lawyer said.
Mayumi Heene will plead guilty to falsely reporting to authorities, a misdemeanor. Richard Heene‘s charge – attempting to influence a public official – is a felony. The deal stipulates a probation sentence for both charges.
The deal avoids more serious felony charges against Mayumi Heene, such as perjury, that could result in her deportation to Japan.
“Upon reviewing the evidence, arguably, Mayumi could have possibly ended up being deported and Richard could have proceeded to trial and had a good chance at an acquittal,” lawyer David Lane said. “This, however, would have put the family at grave risk of seeing a loving, caring, compassionate wife and mother ripped from the family and deported. That was not an acceptable risk, thus these pleas.” More…