The man who pleaded guilty in the runaway balloon saga that riveted the nation for hours says the event was not a hoax.
Richard Heene, an aspiring reality television show participant and backyard scientist, said on CNN's Larry King Live that he believed his six-year-old son, Falcon, was in the balloon in October.
He says he pleaded guilty to a felony count of falsely influencing authorities to protect his Japanese wife, Mayumi, who faced deportation if convicted of a more serious crime.
Richard Heene, who was sentenced to 90 days in jail on December 23, will begin serving his time Monday.
Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to a misdemeanour of knowingly filing a false report with emergency services and was sentenced to 20 days in jail.
AP