Boy trapped in homemade balloon...

[Miss Chicken]

But no-one here is in a position to punish nor free the guy. We are not part of the justice system of Colorado so we should be free to voice whatever opinion we like.

Why should we allow ourselves to draw conclusions from lesser standards of proof? That strikes me as a bad habit.

I draw conclusions concerning evolution despite not having a science degree. That means I have a lesser standard of proof than a scientist does.

I draw conclusions about my children's behaviour without it being proven in a court of law and without forensics etc. Should I use the same standards as a mother disciplining her children as a court of law demands?

 

[Hoser]

Because it's an internet board, and most of us view this like it's a CSI mystery of the week, look at what evidence is available and decide from there. Since we don't have any actual power, it doesn't matter if it happens lazy.

 

[drychlick]

balloon boy was a hoax!

Who out there know this before the cop come out and said this! and what you think what to be done with mom and dad ? jall or fines or both ?

 

[JuanBolio]

I draw conclusions concerning evolution despite not having a science degree. That means I have a lesser standard of proof than a scientist does.

You can read the theories and the processes used to reach them as performed by people with scientific degrees, and agree or disagree. This would be the same as reading about a completed court case and agreeing or disagreeing with the outcome.

I draw conclusions about my children's behaviour without it being proven in a court of law and without forensics etc. Should I use the same standards as a mother disciplining her children as a court of law demands?

Based on some of the incorrect conclusions my own mother came to back when I was subject to her discipline, that might be a good idea.

My rule of thumb is that if I don't feel I can draw a good, fair conclusion, I don't make conclusive statements. I'll go as far as if/then conclusions, usually, but I like to leave some wiggle room for my own lack of knowledge and any new evidence that may pop up. Your own mileage may vary.

 

[Squiggy]

The majority of the reasons for the charges are not allowed to be revealed to the press (due to very specific laws banning that in Colorado) as was specifically mentioned in the press briefing today. The charges are there, there's evidence (found after an extensive search of the house, including their computer for emails and phone records). The details will not be released to the public due to the ongoing investigation.

That's great, but based on the evidence we currently have available, I wouldn't be able to convict the guy were I on his jury. Not if this was all that was given. If they have anything more conclusive, fine, I'd love to hear it.

I'm just a little surprised and disheartened when people jump to conclusions about people based on less than conclusive evidence. Innocent until proven guilty, and I'd rather see a hundred guilty people go free than one innocent person get punished.

Oh, and the parents are going to turn themselves in once charges are filed.

 

[John Picard]

And it gets better:
Sheriff: Balloon boy hoax may have conspirators

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The lawyer for the man accused of perpetrating the balloon boy hoax to promote a reality show said Monday that he expects authorities to bring charges against his client in the next day as investigators analyze e-mails that show Richard Heene and an associate discussing the stunt months ago.
"These folks are absolutely willing to turn themselves in, so I don't want to see a perp walk done for media consumption," lawyer David Lane said on the "Today" show on NBC as he made the rounds on the morning talk shows.
In addition to drawing up possible felony charges against Heene, investigators say they want to question an associate of his after e-mails surfaced showing the two had discussed a balloon hoax months ago as part of a public relations campaign for the reality show.
Robert Thomas of Denver claimed Heene had told him he was planning a media stunt to promote a proposed reality show. Thomas, a self-described researcher, sold his story to Gawker.com and provided the Web site with e-mail exchanges between him and Heene. Thomas said the show would feature Heene as a mad scientist who carries out various scientific experiments.

The parents weren't under arrest, the sheriff said. He said he expected to recommend charges of conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities and attempting to influence a public servant. Federal charges were also possible.
The most serious charges are felonies and carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Alderden said they would be seeking restitution for the costs, though he didn't have an estimate.
The cost for just the two military helicopters was about $14,500.
As Alderden told reporters Sunday that the whole thing was a hoax, the Heenes were shopping for snacks at Wal-Mart, where Richard Heene told the AP he was "seeking counsel."
"This thing has become so convoluted," Heene said, tears welling in his eyes. He said his wife was holding together better than he was.
In a statement issued Sunday, Lane he has advised the family against making public statements and said Heene is willing to turn himself in.
"I don't think it's humane to arrest someone in front of their children," Lane also said Monday, appearing on "The Early Show" CBS. "We're not sure what charges he's looking at yet."
Once investigators got a good look at the "flying saucer" they determined that the thin mylar balloon covered with foil and held together with duct tape would not have been able to launch with the 37-pound-boy inside, according to Colorado State University physics professor Brian Jones.

 

[jkladis]

Ha! I knew it was a hoax!



Actually, no I didn't. I only heard the story right after the landing and that the kid was missing, then of his discovery. The next day, the Chicago Tribune's John Kass wrote a heartwarming article on how Falcon lived the dream many young boys share about experiencing a fantasy flight. He sited parallels to Flight of the Navigator. It made me think and appreciate that. I felt clean, I felt...young!

By late Friday the dirty truth started to really unfold. Fuck humanity sometimes.

 

[John Picard]

Ha! I knew it was a hoax!



Actually, no I didn't. I only heard the story right after the landing and that the kid was missing, then of his discovery. The next day, the Chicago Tribune's John Kass wrote a heartwarming article on how Falcon lived the dream many young boys share about experiencing a fantasy flight. He sited parallels to Flight of the Navigator. It made me think and appreciate that. I felt clean, I felt...young!

By late Friday the dirty truth started to really unfold. Fuck humanity sometimes.

I bet Mr Kass feels like a real schmuck about now!

 

[trampledamage]

I'm beginning to think the hoax as planned was just meant to be the balloon flying off over Colorado. That's the reason it was shaped as an alien spaceship - they wanted to get news coverage of an alien spaceship.

How it morphed into the kid possibly being on board and police involvement I have no idea. And I don't think Richard Heene does either.

 

[Thena]

My concern all along was that an incident like this would discourage parents from calling 911 when a child goes missing because they don't want to bother the police for something that may be as simple as a child hiding.

But now that we see what this guy is all about... it disgusts me. And it pisses me off that I wasted so much time watching the live coverage when I have so much work to get through.

I'm happy to let the law decide what happens to them, but I hope these parents lose their kids and see some jail time.

 

[Trekker4747]

Calling 911 because your child is missing and cannot be found isn't unreasonable. Children are kidnapped all of the time in this country and time is of the essence.

Calling the FAA and police because your child is missing and very well may have flown off in a large-ish helium balloon? Nonsense.

 

[Aragorn]

Why is JuanBolio defending this guy like he committed incest?

 

[Lindley]

That's great, but based on the evidence we currently have available, I wouldn't be able to convict the guy were I on his jury. Not if this was all that was given. If they have anything more conclusive, fine, I'd love to hear it.

As was previously mentioned, that's intentional. They can't risk tainting the jury pool or else it would be too easy for the defense lawyers to call mistrial no matter what evidence they have.

 

[SPOCKED]

Why is JuanBolio defending this guy like he committed incest?

uuuh...

 

[JuanBolio]

That's great, but based on the evidence we currently have available, I wouldn't be able to convict the guy were I on his jury. Not if this was all that was given. If they have anything more conclusive, fine, I'd love to hear it.

As was previously mentioned, that's intentional. They can't risk tainting the jury pool or else it would be too easy for the defense lawyers to call mistrial no matter what evidence they have.

You misunderstand. I'm well aware of why they can't release it. I'm saying it is a mistake to assume prosecutors must have conclusive and damning evidence against someone and judging them based on what that might be. This is more or less equivalent to the "He's bound to be guilty or he wouldn't be on trial!" argument.

That said, the evidence available to us is indeed piling up, though we haven't really seen it. They allegedly now have emails of him and some "co-conspirators" planning the stunt ahead of time, though we certainly haven't seen them or heard anything from these people in their own defense. The news organizations are conclusively calling it a hoax now, despite no confession and no conviction.

Why is JuanBolio defending this guy like he committed incest?

I'm not defending him, just pointing out that we have very little to go on, and there is no conviction. Do you have a problem with that?

If there is any correlation between my reaction to people's condemnation of this guy and my reaction to people's universal condemnation of incest it is that I tend to support the underdog when I feel the underdog is getting judged unfairly by people, especially when not all the facts are in or have been taken into account. I'm slow to judge people, usually, if it isn't a life or death matter, and even then I allow for exceptions to the usual rules. Most people don't think like this. That's okay, though. I prefer to stand out and go it alone.

 

[Lindley]

Fair enough.

 

[John Picard]

It gets better and better.

Balloon dad has criminal past

Richard Heene, the father who allegedly masterminded a stunt where he had authorities believing his 6-year-old son was stuck in a homemade balloon, has a criminal record in LA and was sentenced to jail, according to a report released today.
The celebrity Web site TMZ.com reported that Heene was arrested in April 1997 and charged with misdemeanor vandalism, vehicle tampering and disturbing the peace.
On April 15, 1997, Heene pleaded no contest to vandalism and the other charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $100.

It appears from the court record Heene served only 4 days and was then placed under house arrest.

 

[Supreme Admiral]

Wonderful...

Richard Heene has criminal past. That explained everything. Why is he marrying to his wife and having this kids in the first place, huh?! Those kids are better off without their parents after all, sheesh. He disgusts me.

 

[JuanBolio]

It gets better and better.

Balloon dad has criminal past

Richard Heene, the father who allegedly masterminded a stunt where he had authorities believing his 6-year-old son was stuck in a homemade balloon, has a criminal record in LA and was sentenced to jail, according to a report released today.
The celebrity Web site TMZ.com reported that Heene was arrested in April 1997 and charged with misdemeanor vandalism, vehicle tampering and disturbing the peace.
On April 15, 1997, Heene pleaded no contest to vandalism and the other charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $100.

It appears from the court record Heene served only 4 days and was then placed under house arrest.

What a monster!

 

[Supreme Admiral]

Indeed, Juan!