"Balloon Boy" dad Richard Heene is selling off the infamous balloon that made him the most hated father in America -- and if everything goes to plan ... he'll raise over a million bucks for charity in the process.



Richard posted a video online last week -- in which he claims his family wants to help with the tsunami relief efforts in Japan ... and to kick things off, he's already set a "purchase now" price on the balloon for $1,000,000.

Heene claims he will not make a penny off the saucer -- saying he hired an attorney to distribute any profits from the private online auction to Japanese tsunami relief charities.

The 20-foot saucer created a search-and-rescue panic in October 2009 -- when Richard and his wife claimed their six-year-old was trapped in the balloon as it careened into the sky.

Of course, it was all a lie ... and now everybody hates him.

Balloon Boy's dad Richard Heene has hatched a new money making scheme that doesn't involve exploiting his kids -- and TMZ has learned it involves a giant back scratcher ... and a whole lot of yelling.


Sources tell us Richard has invented a contraption called the "Bear Scratch" -- basically an upright piece of wood you use to scratch your back ... you know, like a bear would.

TMZ got its mitts on a video of Richard practice-pitching the gadget -- and ... just a suggestion ... he should probably take it down a few decibels.

Billy Mays he's not.

The Colorado house where Richard Heene launched his stupid "Balloon Boy" hoax was just rented out to a brand new family ... and TMZ has learned, the home's infamous past was a HUGE selling point.


Sources connected to the property tell us the house received immediate interest when it went on the market last month ... with everyone wanting to see the attic where Falcon hid out while the country thought he was trapped in a homemade balloon.

As we previously reported, the Heene's blew out of town and moved to Florida earlier this month -- but they left a ton of stuff back at the Fort Collins home.

We're told the property owner cleared out all of the Heenes' old crap -- but it's unclear if they'll ever be able to remove the stench of desperation that Richard left all over the home.

"Balloon Dad" Richard Heene has a brand new mug shot in Florida -- but dude didn't break the law this time ... TMZ has learned it's all because he decided to move.



Law enforcement tells us the Heene family has left Colorado for sunny Florida ... and as a convicted felon for that whole "Balloon Boy" hoax thing ... Richard has to check in with local law enforcement before he can settle into a new home.

So, at 7:35 AM ... dude threw on his best yellow t-shirt and waltzed into the Manatee County Sheriff's Office ... where he posed for a mug shot, left his fingerprints and went on his way.

According to reports, the Heenes didn't leave Fort Collins on good terms -- their former landlord claims the fam left discarded belongings all over their former home ... including tables, plates, tools chairs and appliances. 

Don't worry -- they've still got plenty of baggage.

Balloon Dad Richard Heene has left the Larimer County Detention Center in Fort Collins, Co. -- but only so that he can check in to the Alternative Sentencing Unit (ASU), which is about 30 seconds away.

An officer at the prison tells TMZ that Heene has been transferred to the ASU, but couldn't elaborate further.

There are several different programs at the ASU in which Heene can participate in to serve out the remainder of his sentence -- including work release (he would leave for work but check back in at night), workenders (inmates report on Saturday and Sunday and are taken out on supervised crews to perform Community Service work) or even electronic home monitoring.

Heene was sentenced to 90 days behind bars following that whole balloon episode we'd all rather forget.

UPDATE -- After Heene was transferred to the ASU, his loving wife Mayumi showed up to pay him a visit. Mayumi has 20 days to serve in jail for her role in the fiasco. She'll serve her time after Richard serves his.

If you've ever wondered what regret looks like ... take a look at Richard Heene's newest mug shot.

Heene was photographed today after turning himself in to the Larimer County Detention Center, where he was sentenced to spend 90 days behind bars.

This is the last outfit Richard Heene decided to wear before his wardrobe turns to orange.


Heene just turned himself in to the Larimer County Detention Center -- he'll see his Rocky beanie again in about 30 days ... when he'll be eligible for a work release program.

But for now, instead of calling him That Guy Who Put His Kid in Danger Just to So He Can Try and Get a Reality Show ... you can call him Inmate #1279435.

UPDATE: Heene checked in at 8:40 AM MST.

Richard Heene won't have to worry about the "shower situation" in lockdown -- TMZ has learned dude will get to shower alone.

Heene has roughly an hour to check himself into Larimer County Detention Center -- where he will begin his 90-day sentence for being a hoax-running, resource-abusing d-bag.

We're told Balloon Dad has quite a schedule when he arrives at the jail -- starting with a 72 hour evaluation where authorities will decide where to put the guy.

Heene will also be issued his orange uniform.

As for the food -- Heene will eat breakfast at 6:15 AM every morning. Lights out is at 10:30 PM.

At least he'll be eating like true royalty -- his first meal is turkey a la king with rice.

Bon appetit.

Just in time for Oscar season, the Heene family released a video that shows them reacting as the balloon they thought (not really) their son was in floated away.



The family gave the video to CNN, which aired it during "The Situation Room" yesterday.

Richard Heene was sentenced to 90 days in jail for his role in the hoax. Mayumi got 20 days.

Note: Before, when we said Oscars ... we meant Razzies.

UPDATE: Mayumi Heene was sentenced to 20 days in jail for her role, which she'll serve after her husband completes his time.

Richard Heene -- the moron behind the Balloon Boy hoax -- was just sentenced to 90 days in jail for his role in the October incident.



The judge has allowed Heene to serve 60 of the 90 days on a "work-release program" -- in which he'll be allowed to seek work as a construction contractor while doing his time.

Richard was also ordered to 4 years probation. The judge also imposed a condition forbidding Richard from profiting from the Balloon Boy hoax during the four year period of his probation.

During the hearing, Heene appeared to be choking back tears and he apologized for the incident.

Heene will begin his sentence on January 11, 2010.

Heene's wife, Mayumi, is expected to learn her fate any minute.

The two morons behind that terrible "Balloon Boy" stunt are finally going to have to pay the price for all of their dumbassery -- a cool $42,000.



The Larimer County District Attorney's office claims it sent the bill to Richard and Mayumi Heene -- demanding the couple pay restitution to the agencies which took part in the rescue attempt when they thought 6-year-old Falcon Heene had gone airborne in a massive Jiffy Pop-style hot air balloon.

According to the Denver Post, the DA claims the Heene's $42k will go towards the police, the national guard and the Federal Aviation Administration -- who all played a role on October 15.

A lawyer for the Heenes claims they won't pay a cent until they see receipts and records -- we're pretty sure there's no shortage of TV footage.