Authorities are pursuing criminal charges in the case of a boy who vanished into his parents' garage while the world feared he was trapped aboard a helium balloon — prompting speculation of a hoax.

The boy's parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, met with Larimer County investigators for much of the afternoon, but Sheriff Jim Alderden didn't say who would be charged or what the charges would be.

Alderden didn't call Thursday's hours-long drama a hoax, but he expressed disappointment that he couldn't level more serious charges in the incident, which sent police and the military scrambling to save young Falcon Heene as millions of worried television viewers watched.

"We were looking at Class 3 misdemeanor, which hardly seems serious enough given the circumstances," Alderden said. "We are talking to the district attorney, federal officials to see if perhaps there aren't additional federal charges that are appropriate in this circumstance."

Originally posted by Scooby Doo
reply to post by jam321

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I agree, if it is indeed a HOAX, I believe the ones responsible should be charged accordingly. If so, charges for using emergency services should be applied.

Originally posted by Scooby Doo
reply to post by jam321

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I agree, if it is indeed a HOAX, I believe the ones responsible should be charged accordingly. If so, charges for using emergency services should be applied.