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‘Affluenza’ Defense Fugitive Is Reported Captured in Mexico Ethan Couch, ‘Affluenza’ Defense Fugitive, Is Reported Captured in Mexico
(about 2 hours later)
The Texas teenager who was given probation after killing four people while driving drunk has been detained by the Mexican authorities after disappearing this month, according to CNN and television and newspaper reports in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.The Texas teenager who was given probation after killing four people while driving drunk has been detained by the Mexican authorities after disappearing this month, according to CNN and television and newspaper reports in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The teenager, Ethan Couch, was granted leniency in the 2013 drunken-driving case after a witness testified that he suffered from “affluenza,” or psychological problems stemming from his family’s wealth.The teenager, Ethan Couch, was granted leniency in the 2013 drunken-driving case after a witness testified that he suffered from “affluenza,” or psychological problems stemming from his family’s wealth.
Mr. Couch, 18, and his mother, Tonya Couch, 48, were arrested near the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta, the Tarrant County district attorney, Sharen Wilson, told WFAA-TV in Dallas.Mr. Couch, 18, and his mother, Tonya Couch, 48, were arrested near the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta, the Tarrant County district attorney, Sharen Wilson, told WFAA-TV in Dallas.
The Couches fled before a court hearing this month that could have sent him to prison. ABC News quoted an official with the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office as saying that they had been turned over to the Mexican immigration authorities. Their arrest was earlier reported by CNN.The Couches fled before a court hearing this month that could have sent him to prison. ABC News quoted an official with the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office as saying that they had been turned over to the Mexican immigration authorities. Their arrest was earlier reported by CNN.
The ABC News report included a photograph of Mr. Couch released by the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office that showed the blond teenager with noticeably darker hair and a dark brown beard.The ABC News report included a photograph of Mr. Couch released by the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office that showed the blond teenager with noticeably darker hair and a dark brown beard.
The Couch case crystallized the longstanding complaint by critics of the criminal justice system that rich, white defendants like Mr. Couch receive preferential treatment, which the courts and lawyers for those defendants often take pains to deny.The Couch case crystallized the longstanding complaint by critics of the criminal justice system that rich, white defendants like Mr. Couch receive preferential treatment, which the courts and lawyers for those defendants often take pains to deny.
Mr. Couch’s defense team made the link explicit, however, arguing that he deserved leniency because of his upbringing. His lawyer called as a witness a psychologist who claimed that he suffered from affluenza, meaning he was too spoiled by privilege to know right from wrong.Mr. Couch’s defense team made the link explicit, however, arguing that he deserved leniency because of his upbringing. His lawyer called as a witness a psychologist who claimed that he suffered from affluenza, meaning he was too spoiled by privilege to know right from wrong.
The defense case drew angry reactions, as did the result: A judge sentenced Mr. Couch, who was 16 at the time of the accident, to probation, not the prison sentence prosecutors had requested, and prohibited him from drinking. A headline on an article about the case in TheWeek.com read, “Being rich is now a get-out-of-jail-free card.”The defense case drew angry reactions, as did the result: A judge sentenced Mr. Couch, who was 16 at the time of the accident, to probation, not the prison sentence prosecutors had requested, and prohibited him from drinking. A headline on an article about the case in TheWeek.com read, “Being rich is now a get-out-of-jail-free card.”
In November, the Tarrant County district attorney’s office asked that his case be transferred from juvenile court to adult court, which could impose stricter probation terms. Then, this month, a Twitter user posted a six-second video that appeared to show Mr. Couch, barely out of a rehabilitation program, at a drinking party with other youths, and prosecutors began looking into whether he had violated the terms of his probation, which could result in up to 10 years in prison.In November, the Tarrant County district attorney’s office asked that his case be transferred from juvenile court to adult court, which could impose stricter probation terms. Then, this month, a Twitter user posted a six-second video that appeared to show Mr. Couch, barely out of a rehabilitation program, at a drinking party with other youths, and prosecutors began looking into whether he had violated the terms of his probation, which could result in up to 10 years in prison.
Days later, Mr. Couch and his mother disappeared. His probation officer could not find him, he was entered in the national fugitive database, and the juvenile court issued the equivalent of an arrest warrant for him. The authorities said they believed Mrs. Couch had helped her son flee, and they declared her a missing person.Days later, Mr. Couch and his mother disappeared. His probation officer could not find him, he was entered in the national fugitive database, and the juvenile court issued the equivalent of an arrest warrant for him. The authorities said they believed Mrs. Couch had helped her son flee, and they declared her a missing person.
The case dates from June 15, 2013, when Mr. Couch and some friends stole beer from a store and later went for a drive with him at the wheel. Speeding on a dark country road outside Burleson, a suburb of Fort Worth, Tex., he plowed a pickup truck into four pedestrians, killing all of them, and hit two vehicles before his truck flipped over. A teenager who was among Mr. Couch’s passengers was thrown from the vehicle and experienced paralysis and brain damage.The case dates from June 15, 2013, when Mr. Couch and some friends stole beer from a store and later went for a drive with him at the wheel. Speeding on a dark country road outside Burleson, a suburb of Fort Worth, Tex., he plowed a pickup truck into four pedestrians, killing all of them, and hit two vehicles before his truck flipped over. A teenager who was among Mr. Couch’s passengers was thrown from the vehicle and experienced paralysis and brain damage.
Hours later, Mr. Couch recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit for drivers of drinking age, and he tested positive for prescription sedatives. He later pleaded guilty to charges including four counts of manslaughter.Hours later, Mr. Couch recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit for drivers of drinking age, and he tested positive for prescription sedatives. He later pleaded guilty to charges including four counts of manslaughter.