Page 16 - MIN JUS DEC 30,2015
P. 16
U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 30 December
Officials:
‘Affluenza’ teen, mother planned flight to Mexico
about or assisted with the If the judge declines to
flight plan, Anderson said. transfer Couch to adult
He said authorities have court, Wilson will ask that
no evidence that Couch’s his probation be revoked,
father was involved. in which case he could be
Anderson said an arrest held in a juvenile facility until
warrant was being issued his sentence expires when
for Couch’s mother, Tonya he turns 19 next April.
Couch, on charges of Couch’s attorneys, Scott
hindering an apprehension, Brown and Reagan Wynn,
a third-degree felony that said in a statement they
carries a sentence of two won’t comment until they
to 10 years in prison. Tarrant speak with him, which
County District Attorney likely won’t happen before
Sharen Wilson said that at Couch reaches the U.S.
a hearing next month she Ricardo Ariel Vera, the
plans to ask a judge to representative of Mexico’s
transfer Ethan Couch’s case immigration institute in the
to adult court. western state of Jalisco, said
Couch would then face the mother and son were
up to 120 days in an adult being held at immigration
jail, followed by 10-year offices in the state capital,
probation. If he violates Guadalajara, and would be
probation, he could face returned to the United States
up to 10 years in prison per aboard a commercial flight
death, Wilson said. to Houston.q
This Dec. 28, 2015 photo released by Mexico’s Jalisco state
prosecutors office shows who authorities identify as Ethan
Couch, after he was taken into custody in Puerto Vallarta,
Mexico. (Mexico’s Jalisco state prosecutorís office via AP)
E. SCHMALL when he was 16. During
E. CASTILLO the sentencing phase of
Associated Press his trial, a defense expert
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — argued that his wealthy
A Texas teenage fugitive parents coddled him into a
and his mother attempted sense of irresponsibility — a
to disguise themselves condition the expert termed
and disappear among “affluenza.” The condition is
the American tourists who not recognized as a medical
flocked to a Mexican resort diagnosis by the American
city for the holidays, but Psychiatric Association, and
are now in custody and set its invocation drew ridicule.
for deportation to the U.S., The sheriff has said he
authorities said Tuesday. believes the two fled in late
Tarrant County Sheriff Dee November after a video
Anderson said 18-year-old surfaced that appears to
Ethan Couch — known for show Couch at a party
invoking an “affluenza” where people were drinking.
defense after he killed four If found to be drinking,
people in a drunken driving Couch’s probation could
wreck — and his mother be revoked and he could
had prepared to be gone be sentenced to up to 10
awhile, even dying Couch’s years in prison.
blond hair black, before Anderson said Couch and his
being detained Monday mother apparently crossed
in the Pacific Coast city of the border in her pickup and
Puerto Vallarta. drove to Puerto Vallarta,
“They had planned to though the whereabouts
disappear. They even had of the truck are unknown.
something that was almost The U.S. Marshals found the
akin to a going-away party two in Mexico, and worked
before leaving town,” with Mexican agencies to
Anderson said. He would apprehend them. It was not
not give details about the clear whether they had any
event including how many accomplices.
people attended. No immediate charges
Couch was on juvenile were planned for others
probation for the wreck who may have known
