SHERIFF SAYS INCIDENT WAS HOAX, CONGRESSMAN AMONG THOSE FOOLED

The plight of a 6-year-old Colorado boy who captured the nation’s attention last week when he was thought to be trapped alone aboard a runaway helium balloon has come full circle.

Police now say that the incident was a hoax orchestrated by the boy’s publicity-seeking parents. And publicity they got — with more than two hours of frantic national television coverage as authorities launched a massive search rescue operation.

The boy was eventually found safe at home. And the boy’s parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene may soon find themselves trapped — not in flying saucer-shaped craft, but behind bars.

“It has been determined that this is a hoax, that it was a publicity stunt,” Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said at a press conference. “We believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that it was a publicity stunt done with the hopes of better marketing themselves for a reality television show at some point in the future.”

The parents had already appeared on ABC’s reality show “Wife Sawp” and were jockeying for a show of their own.

The Heenes could now face felony charges of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false police report and attempting to influence a public servant.

Evidence of the hoax first came to light when the family was interviewed on CNN’s Larry Kind Live Thursday night. When asked why he did not come out when his name was called, Falcon Heene turned to his parents and said, “You guys said we did this for the show.”

Interestingly, South Carolina Congressman Gresham Barrett was among those fooled by the “balloon boy” stunt.

The Upstate representative and gubernatorial hopeful used the media circus to grab a few headlines of his own while reminding voters that he’s a Christian.

“Praying for the safe return of the boy stuck in the balloon in Colorado,” Barrett (or someone from his campaign) wrote on his Twitter account Thursday. “Our thoughts are with his family.”

When the balloon was found sans the boy, Barrett tweeted, “Our prayers continue for the boy and his family.”

Barrett’s pander was published by The Hill for the enjoyment of folks across the country. Reports are that Barrett, inspired by the Heenes, is now considering building a balloon of his own.

Photo: Reuters