Balloon boy’s dad, back in the news, this time about a documentary

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He’s back in the spotlight again, this time, for a documentary.

On December 23, 2009 Richard Heene was sentenced to ninety days in jail, four years probation and up to $500,000 in fines.  His wife, Mayumi Heene, got twenty days and four years probation.

Remember on Oct. 15,  false reports, by the Heene parents, that their 6-year-old son was aboard a homemade flying saucer. The child was hiding in the attic.

On the day of his sentencing, Heene apologized to the rescue workers, officials and community members.

“I do want to reiterate that I’m very, very sorry,” he said.

Reports circulated that the Heene family was broke, and reality show pitches had all been turned down. Until now.

According to the Associated Press, Steven C. Barber, a 10 year friend of Richard Heene wants to make a movie directly involving Heene and his “science projects”.

Barber, the 48-year-old filmmaker, says he still believes Heene really thought his son was in the balloon as it spun wildly through the skies on Oct. 15.

Barber says he is sure Heene believed what he told authorities was true, and that as Heene himself has said since, he only admitted in court to lying to protect his Japanese-born wife, Mayumi, because he feared she might be deported. She pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

He plans to prove it, Barber says, when he releases the documentary “Balloon Boy: Guilty Until Proven Innocent” later this year.

“He’s a freakin’ genius, a really smart guy – and he’s a good guy,” Barber, an intense ball of energy, told the AP of Heene.

While Barber has a lot of faith in Heene, officials do not.

Thursday, Linda Jensen of the district attorney’s office, told the AP “The bottom line is he entered his plea in court and was advised fully by the judge and the evidence was pretty overwhelming”.

Most are in agreement, except for a few like movie-maker Barber, that “balloon boy escapade” was a desperate attempt at exposure and fame… and the court says there was more than enough evidence to prove it.

The Barber documentary, “Balloon Boy: Guilty Until Proven Innocent” is said to release later this year.

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