Officials: Balloon boy parents acted alone

? Colorado couple Richard and Mayumi Heene acted alone when they fabricated a story about their son floating off in a runaway balloon to gain publicity, sheriff’s officials said Monday.

Days after a 50-mile balloon chase captivated a global audience in October, Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said investigators were examining the possibility of conspirators, which he said may have included media outlets.

On Monday, two days before the two aspiring reality TV stars were to be sentenced on charges stemming from the stunt, sheriff’s spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said the possibility of coconspirators was not substantiated.

Richard and Mayumi Heene both face the possibility of jail time when they appear in court Wednesday for sentencing. A judge also will determine whether the two owe restitution, and if so, how much. Campanella says sheriff’s officials are tabulating the costs, and so far the total is about $43,000.