Two NJ men charged with staging UFO hoax

A judged fined two New Jersey men $250 each for staging a UFO hoax. They will have more earthly pursuits as the judge also sentenced them to perform 50 hours of community service such as picking up trash from the side of the road.

Authorities say the pair triggered a flurry of 911 calls when they lit road flares tied to helium balloons and released them in central New Jersey in January and February.

The men said they did it to trick people who believe in UFOs. They posted details of their exploits on a Web site on April Fools' Day.

The prosecutor charged them with disorderly conduct, saying the balloons could have interfered with air traffic and posed a potential fire hazard.

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