Page 5 - Aruba Today
P. 5
U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 6 January 2016
Mother of ‘affluenza’ teen agrees to be sent to Texas
AMANDA MYERS others, including passen- Tonya Couch, left, appears for her extradition hearing at the Los
Associated Press gers in his pickup truck. Angeles Superior Court, as one of her attorneys, Sonia Perez-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The During the sentencing Chaisson, is seen in the foreground, in Los Angeles, Tuesday,
mother of a fugitive teen- phase of his trial, a defense Jan. 5, 2016. Couch, mother of a fugitive teenager known for
ager known for using an expert argued that his using an “affluenza” defense in a deadly drunken-driving case,
“affluenza” defense in wealthy parents coddled waived extradition and will be sent to Texas to face a charge
a drunken-driving case him into a sense of irrespon- of hindering the apprehension of a felon. (Genaro Molina/LA
agreed Tuesday to be sent sibility — a condition the Times/AP/Pool)
from California to Texas to expert termed “affluenza.”
face a charge. The condition is not recog- don said in the statement. she is extradited to Texas,
Tonya Couch, 48, ap- nized as a medical diag- She is being held in Los where her bond was set at
peared for an extradition nosis by the American Psy- Angeles without bail until $1 million. q
hearing in downtown Los chiatric Association, and its
Angeles, where she was invocation during the legal
flown last week after being proceedings drew ridicule.
deported from Mexico. She He was sentenced to pro-
said very little, answering bation.
“yes” when asked if she is Ethan Couch was being
the Tonya Couch wanted held at a detention facility
by the state of Texas. in Mexico City after winning
It’s unclear when she will a court reprieve that could
be sent to Texas, where lead to a weeks- or even
prosecutors charged her months-long legal process
with hindering the appre- in Mexico.
hension of a felon. Tonya Couch’s attorneys
Couch and her 18-year- released a statement say-
old son, Ethan, were ap- ing she had done nothing
prehended last week in illegal and wanted to get
Mexico, where authorities back to Texas as soon as
believe the pair fled in No- possible.
vember as Texas prosecu- “While the public may not
tors investigated whether like what she did, may not
he had violated his pro- agree with what she did,
bation in a car crash that or may have strong feel-
killed four people. ings against what she did,
Ethan Couch was driving make no mistake — Tonya
drunk and speeding near did not violate any law of
Fort Worth in June 2013 the State of Texas and she
when he crashed into a is eager to have her day in
disabled SUV, killing four court,” lawyers Stephanie
people and injuring several K. Patten and Steve Gor-
Snyder declares emergency
in Flint over water problems
JEFF KAROUB investigation is “an effort
Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — Michigan to address the concerns
Gov. Rick Snyder declared
a state of emergency in of Flint residents,” but she
Flint on Tuesday over prob-
lems with lead in the city’s couldn’t say whether it is
drinking water, the same
day federal officials con- a criminal or civil investiga-
firmed they’re investigating
the matter that prompted tion.
a local public health emer-
gency. Snyder’s action The city switched from De-
follows emergency dec-
larations by the city and troit’s water system to Flint
Genesee County, which
requested help from the River water in a cost-cutting
state. Michigan’s declara-
tion makes available state move in 2014, while under
resources in cooperation
with local response and re- state financial manage-
covery operations.
U.S. attorney’s spokes- ment. That was intended
woman Gina Balaya said
in an email that the federal as a temporary step while
a pipeline was built from
Lake Huron.
Residents complained
about the water’s taste,
smell and appearance,
and children were found
to have elevated levels of
lead due to the water sup-
ply. Exposure to lead can
cause behavior problems
and learning disabilities in
children.q
