The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
As the New York Daily News points out, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden has been mum on the specific charges Richard Heene and his wife, Mayumi, will face as a result of the “balloon boy” incident that grabbed headlines around the world one week ago and has been spawning jokes ever since. Alderden has said he believes the incident was a hoax and publicity stunt, but it’s now becoming clear that Richard Heene, known for his flashes of anger on ABC’s “Wife Swap,” has a history of criminal incidents that appear related to his fiery temper. In 1984, Heene was sentenced to three years of probation in California following his conviction for an assault with a firearm, according to records reviewed by 9News. And the Daily News notes that Heene spent time in jail in 1997 for vandalism, vehicle tampering, and disturbing the peace in Los Angeles.