The parents who pleaded guilty in the balloon boy hoax have agreed to pay about $36,000 in restitution to authorities who responded to the incident.

Larimer County Chief Judge Stephen Schapanski Tuesday accepted the agreement that prosecutors reached with Richard and Mayumi Heene (HEE'-knee), who weren't at the hearing.

The Larimer County sheriff's office and other agencies had sought $48,000 for responding to the Oct. 15 incident. The Heenes reported their 6-year-old son had floated away in a homemade UFO-shaped helium balloon, touching off a scramble of emergency responders.

The boy wasn't on the balloon.

The Heenes' attorneys had argued the couple should pay only a small amount in compensation.