His lawyer said he was too rich to go to jail, and the court seemed to buy it.
Now, the Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident has dropped an appeal against deportation from Mexico and will return to Texas to face charges in the coming days.
Eighteen-year-old Ethan Couch and his mother, Tonya, were detained in the resort of Puerto Vallarta in December. They allegedly fled Texas as prosecutors investigated whether he had violated his probation in the case of a 2013 wreck that killed four people.
Tonya Couch is charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Ethan Couch had been fighting against a return to Texas, but seems to have some legal cards up his sleeve that may have led him to consent to deportation. Because the alleged probation violation happened while Couch was a minor, it appears potential jail time may be limited.
Plus, a member of Couch’s legal team seemed to suggest the teen may try to argue that his mother forced him to flee to Mexico — a move that many see as another attempt to dodge accountability.
During Couch’s first trial, a defense witness said the teen was coddled into a sense of irresponsibility by his wealthy parents, a condition the expert called “affluenza.” The condition is not recognized as a medical diagnosis by the American Psychiatric Association, and its invocation drew widespread ridicule.
Upon his return to Texas, Ethan Couch will be held in a juvenile detention center. A juvenile judge will hold a hearing to decide whether to continue to hold him there, book him in an adult jail or let him go, said Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson.
A separate hearing is scheduled for Feb. 19 to determine whether Couch’s case is transferred to the adult system. If it is transferred and Couch violates his probation again, he could face up to 10 years in prison per death his accident caused.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
If his mommy or daddy were store workers, plumbers, bus drivers, state workers or construction workers, then he would have been in Huntsville Prison years ago. Affirmative action is wrong and diminishes quality. Classism, favoritism and nepotism are even worse.
Money talks. Two sets of rules in this country. If you doubt that, watch Hilliary go free.
I think you are right. There should be a way we could charge Obama and his cohorts with Obstruction of justice if they fil to prosecute.
Fbot is not an American but a zio sock puppet-notice is leaving US into a mountain of debt to the private zio bank & the fiat FRN, the federal reserve is a private zio-bank & the IRS is nothing but a glorified debt collector, see Diversified Metals vs IRS. Also there is NO Constnl Authority for any judge to allow prosecution of Any American-ask why $10,000,000 per day goes to zionisreal, greatest threat to the World
Unfortunately I must believe you are right.
Go the adult route. Texas u are never scared to prosecute and at least try to get justice. He doesn’t need to see the streets again. Lick him up and give him those 40 years he deserves
Affluenza My Ass… This kid murdered 4 people while driving drunk. He should without any doubt be in prison…Stop the madness!!!,,,,,,,,,,,,PLEASE
He was taking after his buddy Justin Beaverface, you know, that stoopid, spoiled Hollyweird brat that has more money than brains or commonsense.
What about the Wrongful Death Suits??…Where are the Civil Suits??…Why are we not hearing about them??…Why does this family have one dollar left??…THIS IS LA-LA LAND FOLKS !!!
‘Cause the victims couldn’t afford a strong enough lawyer?
Trial lawyers would burn their own mothers at the stake for merely the chance to represent the victims’ estates or families for free. I don’t buy it Windy
On a big case like this they would jump at the chance to represent the victims families for a 33% and up contingency fee. Maybe they are waiting to see what the Judge will do – if he comes down hard on the murderer it may be worth waiting.
Criminal cases are based on a “flat fee” payment, not just monthly billings or minimal retainers. They both deserve serious jail time!!
LOCK HIM UP!!!!!! Throw away the key!!!
It is obvious, The judge, on the take or just plane stupid, should be removed from his position. The shyster should have been sited with contempt of court. When he came up with that no brainer, he was telling the judge, I think your stupid enough to buy this, and he was. Yup, in todays USA, if your deaf, dumb and blind, there is no limits. You can qualify for the Supreme Court or claim the white house.
America is BEing Betrayed by these JA judges, nothing but terrorists in robes n they need ROPE, see Bush vs Gore where the WH was sold to bush, roe vs wade, she lied n was never raped to Briscoe vs lahue that legalized police testilying, to the robes that lie n say We the Ppl have “no standing” to challenge Fbot as a Jus Soli American to Slavin vs currey, a lie, to Tx vs Adams, a lie
If this Kid was Black he would be Shot
It’s not the color of the skin in this case, all that matters is how much green you have.
This whole case stinks. He needs to be locked up with Bubba and shown the finer things in life.The judge in this case needs to be thrown in the slammer along with them. A new reality show can come out of this on MSNBC called: Lockup Threes Company.
There are only two issues I care about in regards to this scoundrel:
1. Four people died from his actions. He should bear some financial responsibility to the next of kin for their untimely deaths.
2. It was his driving that killed those people, not the way his parents raised him.
As for whether he was drunk: That doesn’t matter, for this simple reason: If we was completely sober and still caused the deaths of the other individuals, would that make the situation any better? Driving mishaps occur even when people are in full control of their mental and physical abilities. Errant driving was the cause, not drunkenness. By operating the vehicle, he is responsible for anything and everything that happens while he’s operating it. Using drunkenness as an excuse takes away from the fact that his actions as an operator resulted in the death of others.
Typical idiot, now that he is 18, he can vote for Hillary. Give him hard time.
Karma has a way of coming back to people like him. I expect that someone in Texas will either give him a major tune up or kill him one of these days. He’s just the kind of punk who runs into the wrong person at the wrong time and doesn’t walk away from it. Mr. Ethan is going to provide evening entertainment one of these days.
You bet! Karma always appear at the right time. We just have to be patient.
I hope mamma does some time. She deserves it!
Here’s an idea–leave the little bum in a Mexican prison. The reason he is dropping his extradition fight is likely because Mexican prison life isn’t fun.
This guy has already been given a break. He should be held as an adult and serve his 10 year prison sentence in an adult prison. He murdered four people because he was illegally drinking and then drove drunk. He will never learn responsibility until he is held responsible for his actions. If this guy is considered a child he should lose his driving privilege and be sent back to high school, where he will stay until he is ready to act like an adult.
The mother is an enabler. She needs to get a prison sentence out of this. She contributed to the delinquency of a minor, assuming you go with this guy’s defense. If the affluenza teen has any younger brothers or sisters in the home they need to be put into foster care. The mother is not a fit parent and should not be allowed to ruin the lives of any other children.
Any judge which cuts Ethan or his mom any more slack should be impeached for gross stupidity. I’m tired of judges who are more interested in pandering to criminals than protecting the public.
I like the way his handlers have advised him to roll on Mommy, or did he think up that dodge all by himself?…Class Move!
A generation or two of malcontented parents who blamed their ill fortune on those with better inborn capabilities, and voiced it at the dining room table for developmental years, is why we had their progeny perform the 1960’s riots in Newark, NJ, the recent Baltimore riots, & all this Islam related subhuman behavior. It is neither race nor religion related. There is only one obvious solution.
This ASSperagus clown needs to go to big boy prison. He should have gone to the Youth Authority detention facility for starters, but the judge bought that claptrap about affluenza. What a bunch of horse exhaust!
All very good comments and they hit the target – the legal system in this country stinks and that is why no common sense is seen when those who have money can determine their own type of justice. Lawyers and judges should be under constant screening for drugs, influence peddling and bribery.
Our legal system was in full retreat on this case, just how much did it cost the family to payola this judge?
So his best defense will be to put the blame on mom? What a sorry excuse of a man.
I hope his parents don’t have any more children….that is why we have stopped people like them from breeding… what would this world be like……scares me to just think about it …… mother dear should.and I hope she spends a lot time at the crowbar hotel…….her fellow inmate could improve her looks, cause she needs help with her looks……..money didn’t help her looks…..
This Punk needs a lot of prison time, period! His dimwitted mother as well!! Come on Texas, fire these incompetent Judges and get with the program!
Ive seen this myself,”The rich will get away with murder”.ItsTrue!