**A US sheriff has said the case of six-year-old Falcon Heene who was believed to be adrift in a hot air balloon, prompting a major alert, was a hoax.**Sheriff Jim Alderden said the parents of the boy were actors and had put on a “good show for us, and we bought it”.
Falcon’s disappearance became a media drama, but he was later found at home.
Sheriff Alderden said as yet there had been no arrests but possible charges included conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Some of the most serious charges each carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison and a $500,000 (£305,00) fine.
Sheriff Alderden said at first the parents’ acting abilities had made them appear credible to the police.
But it had become clear when the son referred to his hiding in the attic as part of “a show” during a television interview that they were not telling the the truth.
He said the house of Richard and Mayumi Heene has been searched for evidence that the family was hoping to use the incident to obtain a lucrative contract for a television reality.
The family has made previous appearances on a US reality show, Wife Swap.