Police Ordered to Detain 'Affluenza Teen' Ethan Couch

[notfundy]

4 minutes ago, nobleandstrong said:

What confused me is that if all the local Texas authorities had on him was a video of him at a party with drinking, then why flee the country with your mom? Why change both people's hair color?  And, then, what's in it for the U.S. authorities to then call in the Feds and immigration and put this as a top priority?  A parole violation while he's still a "juvenile" (for the sentencing purposes) does not indicate a top priority in finding a person.  I think that there is more to the story.  

Yes!  I've been wondering about these points this whole time and do not understand why the news media isn't discussing them more.     I read that even if he was found to have violated his probation (by being somewhere where alcohol was served), the worst consequence would be four months in jail.   So why flee the country?  God, his mother must be SUCH an entitled white bitch; sorry, but that is what comes to mind.    The worst parents ever; they could not control him.  He was allowed to drive to his private school when he was 13 (THE HELL?) and often stayed overnight at the parents' second home  (WTF???)   

Crazy stuff.  

And further - why wasn't he tried as an adult to begin with?  We are forever trying kids as young as fourteen (maybe even younger) in adult court for other crimes.   I can think of a few examples right off hand.

I truly don't understand that AT ALL.  At that age, their brains are not fully formed, they cannot fully understand long term consequences, etc.  yet they are waived to adult court.   So why wouldn't that have been the case for this kid?   

 

[Howl]

Tonya Couch is the poster child for an enabler.  Mother or son can't think a rational thought, understand consequences, or do anything that doesn't involve alcohol.  He's headed out on Mission Self Destruct.  Dr. Phil, STAT, just because he would be the one person to immediately cut through all the bullsh*t.

 

[Cleopatra7]

12 hours ago, Howl said:

Well, they would certainly blend in better with the hordes of American tourists, than in a non-tourist destination.  It didn't appear that they were staying in a luxe apt, but the show I saw on TV said that Ethan went to a stripper club called Harem and ran a $1000 tab, but he was over $300 short. This  tells me he was drunk, at a Mexican strip club, carrying about $700 in cash.  A stupid move anywhere.  According to this on-line article, a club employee escorted him back to his hotel, but his mom didn't have enough $$$ to pay the bill, so Ethan's Rolex (!) watch was given as security.  The next day, they abandoned the hotel and got a condo (according to this story, which differs just slightly from the TV story).  

abcnews.go.com/International/affluenza-teen-drank-strip-club-mexico/story?id=36099672

Anyway, it made me wonder if they didn't leave the US only to escape US legal fallout from the party video, but rather they just needed to get to a place with a party/drinking scene where Ethan (and his mom) could drink to their respective heart's content. 

I'm beginning to wonder if the entire family has anti-social, criminal, and addictive tendencies. It's like they get off flaunting their wealth, flouting the rules, and being churlish idiots. It would make for an interesting novel a la "We Need to Talk About Kevin," but as they say, truth is stranger than fiction.

[Howl]

@Cleopatra7, thank you for using the expression "churlish idiots" to perfectly describe this family!  It made my day.  In return, I'll share that I wanted to use "took a powder" to describe their flight to Mexico, but didn't think anyone would understand. 

[Howl]

15 hours ago, notfundy said:

Yes!  I've been wondering about these points this whole time and do not understand why the news media isn't discussing them more.     I read that even if he was found to have violated his probation (by being somewhere where alcohol was served), the worst consequence would be four months in jail.   So why flee the country?  God, his mother must be SUCH an entitled white bitch; sorry, but that is what comes to mind.    The worst parents ever; they could not control him.  He was allowed to drive to his private school when he was 13 (THE HELL?) and often stayed overnight at the parents' second home  (WTF???)   

Crazy stuff.  

And further - why wasn't he tried as an adult to begin with?  We are forever trying kids as young as fourteen (maybe even younger) in adult court for other crimes.   I can think of a few examples right off hand.

I truly don't understand that AT ALL.  At that age, their brains are not fully formed, they cannot fully understand long term consequences, etc.  yet they are waived to adult court.   So why wouldn't that have been the case for this kid?   

 

The Austin American Statesman has an op-ed piece this morning titled Texas justice has bad case of 'affluenza' and compares the treatment of Rashad Owens, 21, who was driving drunk and crashed into a crowd at South by Southwest festival in Austin, killing 4 people.  Rashad was an aspiring music producer, with some misdemeanor background.  Ethan Couch got 10 years probation; Rashad Owens got 20 years hard time.   The editorial ends with this question:

Quote

But ask yourself: Would Ethan Couch have been free to play beer pong and run up a bar tab in Mexico last month if he had been a fast-food employee and black man with six small kids?  Not a chance - even if his defense hadn't said out loud that their client was too rich to be held accountable.

Rashad Owens left carnage in the wake of his actions, but immediately after the accident, he was crying and saying, "Sir, all I care about is me not killing nobody. I didn't mean to hurt nobody.  I was scared."   Ethan Couch walked away from an accident that killed four people and to this day doesn't seem particularly sorry for his actions. 

Full text of editorial here: 

pressreader.com/usa/austin-american-statesman/20160107/281625304287962/TextView

Also, the judge who sentenced Ethan Couch to 10 yrs probation and presided over his trial, 9 years earlier sentenced a teen who killed two people in a drunk driving accident at age 16 to 20 years in prison. 

Judge who gave Ethan Couch probation gave another teen 20 years behind bars for fatal DWI crash:  star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article52741505.html

 

Edited January 7, 2016 by Howl

[sawasdee]

@Howl

That judge is yet another WTF moment....

[Buzzard]

5 hours ago, Howl said:

The Austin American Statesman has an op-ed piece this morning titled Texas justice has bad case of 'affluenza' and compares the treatment of Rashad Owens, 21, who was driving drunk and crashed into a crowd at South by Southwest festival in Austin, killing 4 people.  Rashad was an aspiring music producer, with some misdemeanor background.  Ethan Couch got 10 years probation; Rashad Owens got 20 years hard time.   The editorial ends with this question:

Rashad Owens left carnage in the wake of his actions, but immediately after the accident, he was crying and saying, "Sir, all I care about is me not killing nobody. I didn't mean to hurt nobody.  I was scared."   Ethan Couch walked away from an accident that killed four people and to this day doesn't seem particularly sorry for his actions. 

Full text of editorial here: 

pressreader.com/usa/austin-american-statesman/20160107/281625304287962/TextView

Also, the judge who sentenced Ethan Couch to 10 yrs probation and presided over his trial, 9 years earlier sentenced a teen who killed two people in a drunk driving accident at age 16 to 20 years in prison. 

Judge who gave Ethan Couch probation gave another teen 20 years behind bars for fatal DWI crash:  star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article52741505.html

 

There is a pretty significant legal distinction between the two cases, they're not apples to apples.  Owens killed people, while drunk, during the commission of a felony - the felony being a stolen car.  That changes that law that applies.  Couch could only be charged with DUI/vehicle manslaughter because of the lack of intent to kill.  Owens killed people in the commission of a felony, making it felony murder.   Couch was originally sentenced, and served his time in a juvenile facility.  He served about 4 years and was paroled.  He only got the 20 years after he committed additional crimes, got in a chase with police, and had his parole revoked.  The fact that one was black and one was white isnt the sole distinction between the two cases.  They're simply different legal scenarios.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around why Ethan is fighting extradition, especially considering this:

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/2015/12/31/gun-found-couches-mexico-apartment/78154170/

The article claims that there was a gun found in their room.  Thats a BIG no-no in Mexico and can buy him some real time.  He should have made like his mother and run for the border.  

I have no doubt that he is completely unable to behave himself.  My hope is that they transfer his probation to big boy court so that he can face some real consequences when he violates again, which he will.  I'm not a fan of the juvenile system and their inability to punish for very real crimes (for example, in Georgia an armed robbery with a fake gun will not land you in superior court, that stays in juvenile).  I truly believe that anything that results in the death of another, anything sexual based, or anything that rises to the level of a robbery should originate in adult court but allow a judge to deviate from mandatory minimums. 

[Howl]

Yes, that is correct.  It isn't apples to apples, but the judge had zero sympathy for the 16-year-old (Eric Miller) and gave him 20 years, even though he had a horribly difficult childhood (drug addicted mother). Nope, no spa-like rehab for Eric!   He also had a public defender.  16 years old, poor, black, public defender: 20 years hard time right off the bat.  

 Ethan Couch, rich, white, best lawyer money can buy: probation.  I don't believe that if Ethan Couch were poor, black, raised by a drug addicted mother, he'd have gotten probation and sentenced to a nice rehab.  Ethan Couch killed 4 people outright, left one so damaged he'll never have anything approximating a normal life, and injured many others.  The judge had options, and gave the lightest possible sentence, one that avoided prison. 

Anyway, yes, the gun deal is insanely bad juju in Mexico.  Be very interesting to see how that plays out. 

[Cleopatra7]

3 hours ago, Buzzard said:

There is a pretty significant legal distinction between the two cases, they're not apples to apples.  Owens killed people, while drunk, during the commission of a felony - the felony being a stolen car.  That changes that law that applies.  Couch could only be charged with DUI/vehicle manslaughter because of the lack of intent to kill.  Owens killed people in the commission of a felony, making it felony murder.   Couch was originally sentenced, and served his time in a juvenile facility.  He served about 4 years and was paroled.  He only got the 20 years after he committed additional crimes, got in a chase with police, and had his parole revoked.  The fact that one was black and one was white isnt the sole distinction between the two cases.  They're simply different legal scenarios.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around why Ethan is fighting extradition, especially considering this:

http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/2015/12/31/gun-found-couches-mexico-apartment/78154170/

The article claims that there was a gun found in their room.  Thats a BIG no-no in Mexico and can buy him some real time.  He should have made like his mother and run for the border.  

I have no doubt that he is completely unable to behave himself.  My hope is that they transfer his probation to big boy court so that he can face some real consequences when he violates again, which he will.  I'm not a fan of the juvenile system and their inability to punish for very real crimes (for example, in Georgia an armed robbery with a fake gun will not land you in superior court, that stays in juvenile).  I truly believe that anything that results in the death of another, anything sexual based, or anything that rises to the level of a robbery should originate in adult court but allow a judge to deviate from mandatory minimums. 

I know nothing about Mexican law, but does this mean that Couch could potentially serve time in Mexico for the gun charge? If so, it might be the only way he could be adequately punished for what he did.

[OldFadedStar]

Ugh, I have been following this on the news recently and it pisses me off so much. I don't believe affluenza should be a good defense. 

[Mitz_]

Ethan couch lawyers are using defense strategies that are not intended for people like Ethan. He isn't on death row or unable to provide defense for himself. It's just a stall tactic.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/qa-affluenza-teens-mexico-strategy-36127383

 

Evidently no gun was in their possession when they were arrested. Neither prosecution or defense has mentioned a gun. They have wondered what happened to his dog though, it looks like he is missing.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2016/01/07/affluenza-mystery-couches-dog-goes-missing-in-mexico-1000-reward/

[Howl]

These people are the gift that keeps on giving: 

Quote

Described as a mix of shepherd and wolf, Virgil was on the trip with the teen and his mother when they took off to Mexico

Nope, no one would remember a gringo mother and son with a wolf dog in Mexico, no one.   Nope, not one person. Except every single person that saw them.  Every. Single. Person.   Most hapless people on the lam ever. 

Plus it's more evidence of their intentional escape.  These are the requirements for bringing a pet into Mexico: 

 

•  

  Quote

   

  • According to the Mexican Consulate, in order to cross over the border into Mexico with pet dogs or cats (and to make sure they return home safely with you!) you will need to carry two main documents throughout your journey:

  • An International Certificate of Good Health (Form 77-043) issued by a licensed veterinarian (signature must be approved by the State Veterinarian) who has examined your pet and...
  • Proof of vaccination against rabies and distemper, administered at least 15 days before your pet enters Mexico.

   

  Hope Mr. Virgil is OK! 

Edited January 10, 2016 by Howl

[Shadoewolf]

ICGH's are only good for so many days too. Most vets won't sign for more than 30 days.

[Mitz_]

6 hours ago, Shadoewolf said:

ICGH's are only good for so many days too. Most vets won't sign for more than 30 days.

No one ever checks those papers at the Mexican border unless you have too many pets or something.  

A wolf hybrid would not be allowed entrance at all but it wouldn't have been any big deal to get a vet to call him a shepherd mix and give them the papers. I can't imagine that these people would bother with that though.

[doggie]

well looks like is still getting perks he is 18 and gets to go to juvie. 

http://bigstory.ap.org/urn:publicid:ap.org:5de8c64cd7c64ac082124b28a400f91d

Judge rules 'affluenza' teen can stay in juvenile facility

[ShepherdontheRock]

2 hours ago, doggie said:

well looks like is still getting perks he is 18 and gets to go to juvie. 

http://bigstory.ap.org/urn:publicid:ap.org:5de8c64cd7c64ac082124b28a400f91d

Judge rules 'affluenza' teen can stay in juvenile facility

To be fair, it's probably cheaper than putting him in protective custody.

[Chowder Head]

On 1/30/2016 at 11:30 AM, ShepherdontheRock said:

To be fair, it's probably cheaper than putting him in protective custody.

True enough

[Dandruff]

Ethan Couch's case is being moved to adult court at midnight on April 11th (his 19th birthday).  He could be sentenced to 120 days in jail if found to have violated his probation.  I wish it could be a lot more than that.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/case-against-affluenza-teen-ethan-couch-moved-adult-court-n521721

[Buzzard]

4 minutes ago, Dandruff said:

Ethan Couch's case is being moved to adult court at midnight on April 11th (his 19th birthday).  He could be sentenced to 120 days in jail if found to have violated his probation.  I wish it could be a lot more than that.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/case-against-affluenza-teen-ethan-couch-moved-adult-court-n521721

Its a step.  He will now be supervised by big boy probation and when he screws up again he has big boy consequences.

[Cleopatra7]

Ethan Couch has been sentenced to two years in adult prison for the deaths in the original drunk-driving case:

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/couch-711930-jail-prosecutors.html

We all know what a prize Couch's mom is, but his father facing lawsuits about a $100,000 debt and sexual harassment. A klassy family all around.

[unsafetydancer]

On 29/12/2015 at 2:08 PM, GeoBQn said:

There's a German word, Backpfeifengesicht, that means "a face in need of a fist."  That word came to mind when I saw his picture.

This is why I love German words.

[47of74]

On 2/18/2016 at 1:50 PM, Buzzard said:

Its a step.  He will now be supervised by big boy probation and when he screws up again he has big boy consequences.

Yeah, I got the popcorn ready for when he does.

[Mercer]

It still isn't a fair consequence for what he did (imagine how he'd be punished if he was, say, black and poor!) but at least it's something. Maybe this will finally make an impression.

[doggie]

in the us no one seems to get much punishment when you kill someone with a car.

[Cleopatra7]

50 minutes ago, doggie said:

in the us no one seems to get much punishment when you kill someone with a car.

Why is that? Shooting or stabbing someone will get you life, but run someone over with a car, and you practically get a slap on the wrist. I found this abstract for a study on vehicular homicide sentences, and unsurprisingly, killing a white woman will lead to a sentence that is 56 percent longer, while killing a black person of any sex will lead to a sentence that is 53 percent lighter:

http://www.nber.org/papers/w7676