Page 5 - Aruba Today
P. 5
U.S. NEWS A5
Thursday 31 December 2015
US officials: ‘Affluenza’ teen likely won’t be deported soon
ful that’s not the case. termed “affluenza.” The vere brain damage in the
We’re hopeful the Mexican condition is not recognized crash.
immigration court will make as a medical diagnosis by Couch’s attorneys in
a quick and decisive deci- the American Psychiatric the U.S. issued a statement
sion and return the Couch- Association, and its invoca- Wednesday saying they
es to America.” tion during the legal pro- couldn’t comment on the
During the sentencing ceedings drew ridicule. case because they weren’t
phase of Couch’s trial in “Couch continues to make licensed to practice law in
2013, a defense expert a mockery of the system,” Mexico. It wasn’t immedi-
argued that his wealthy said Fort Worth attorney Bill ately clear which attorneys
parents coddled him into Berenson, who represent- were handling the case in
a sense of irresponsibility ed Sergio Molina, who was Guadalajara.
— a condition the expert paralyzed and suffered se- Mexican police say Couch
Richard Hunter, chief deputy U.S. Marshal’s Office Southern
District of Texas, speaks about the Ethan Couch case during
a media conference at the Federal Courthouse in Houston on
Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015.
(Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP)
M. GRACZYK Hunter said Couch’s moth-
E. CASTILLO er, Tonya Couch, also
Associated Press wouldn’t be deported as
HOUSTON (AP) — The Texas originally planned Wednes-
teenager known for using day, but he didn’t say if she
an “affluenza” defense in also had been granted a
a fatal drunken-driving ac- court delay. The pair were
cident likely won’t return to being held by immigration
the U.S. anytime soon be- officials in Guadalajara.
cause of a Mexican judge’s The ruling earlier Wednes-
decision to delay his de- day by the Mexican court
portation on Wednesday, gives a judge three days to
a U.S. law enforcement of- decide whether the young-
ficial said. er Couch has grounds to
Richard Hunter, chief dep- challenge his deportation
uty for the U.S. Marshals based on arguments that
Service in South Texas, said kicking him out of the coun-
during a news conference try would violate his rights.
in Houston that a three-day Hunter said the legal ma-
court injunction granted to neuver basically takes the
Ethan Couch will likely take decision out of an immi-
at least two weeks to re- gration agent’s hands and
solve. asks a higher authority to
Authorities believe the make the deportation de-
18-year-old Couch, who cision. He said such cases
was sentenced only to pro- can often take anywhere
bation for the 2013 wreck in from two weeks to several
Texas, fled to Mexico with months, depending on the
his mother in November as priorities of the local courts.
prosecutors investigated “It also depends on the
whether he had violated fact the Couches have le-
his probation. Both were gal counsel. And it seems
taken into custody Mon- to me, if they wanted to,
day after authorities said a they could pay them as
phone call for pizza led to much money as they want
their capture in the resort to drag this thing out,”
city of Puerto Vallarta. Hunter said. “We’re hope-
