Page 5 - Aruba Today

U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 13 January 2016

Texas ‘affluenza’ teen’s mom released from jail

Tonya Couch, center, the mother of a Texas teen who used an “affluenza” defense in a drunken in prison if convicted. Ethan
wreck, leaves Tarrant County Jail, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, in Fort Worth, Texas. She is to be fitted Couch is still being held in
with a GPS monitor before release. A judge decreased Couch’s bond Monday from $1 million Mexico as he fights depor-
to $75,000. Couch is charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon after she and her son, tation.
Ethan Couch, were caught in a Mexican resort city. During Ethan Couch’s trial,
a defense witness said the
(AP Photo/Brandon Wade) teen was coddled into a
sense of irresponsibility by
his wealthy parents, a con-
dition the expert called
“affluenza.” The condi-
tion is not recognized as a
medical diagnosis by the
American Psychiatric Asso-
ciation, and its invocation
drew widespread ridicule.
Law enforcement officials
said Tonya Couch, 48, and
her son fled the U.S. after
a video surfaced that ap-
peared to show the teen
at a party where people
were drinking alcohol. If
Ethan Couch was drinking,
it would violate his proba-
tion and could lead to jail
time.q

JAMIE STENGLE of another son, 29-year-old
Associated Press Steven McWilliams, except

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) for appointments with her

— The mother of a fugitive doctor and lawyer.
teenager known for using Her arrest affidavit alleges
an “affluenza” defense in a that she and her 18-year-
fatal drunken-driving wreck old son, Ethan Couch, fled

was released from a Texas the state in December as

jail on Tuesday, a day after Texas prosecutors inves-
a judge sharply reduced tigated whether he had
her $1 million bond for al- violated his probation in

legedly helping her son flee the 2013 wreck that killed

to Mexico. four people. Both were tak-
Tonya Couch declined to en into custody later that
speak with reporters when month in Puerto Vallarta,
she was released from the after a call for pizza deliv-

Tarrant County Jail in Fort ery tipped off authorities to

Worth. She posted the their whereabouts.
$75,000 bond and was or- Tonya Couch is charged
dered to wear an elec- with hindering the appre-

tronic ankle GPS monitor hension of a felon and

and remain at the home could face up to 10 years