Parents in ‘Balloon Boy’ incident among those to receive pardon from Governor Polis
Richard and Mayumi Heene received pardons from Colorado's governor for their roles in the 2009 "balloon boy" incident.
Author: Allison Sylte
Updated: 5:19 PM MST December 23, 2020
DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis (D-Colorado) issued four commutations and 18 pardons Wednesday. Among the people who received a pardon are the parents involved in the 2009 “balloon boy” incident that made international headlines.
“We are all ready to move past the spectacle from a decade ago that wasted precious time and resources of law enforcement officials and the general public,” Polis said in a news release announcing the pardons for Richard and Mayumi Heene. “Richard and Mayumi have paid the price in the eyes of the public, served their sentences, and it’s time for all of us to move on.