'Affluenza' teen's mom will return to Texas for prosecution
The mother of an 18-year-old infamous for citing his wealth as a defense to a DUI charge will not fight extradition, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Tonya Couch, 48, is accused of helping her son, Ethan Couch, flee the United States and hide after he violated his probation. The pair was found in the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta, where authorities were able to trace a phone call they made ordering a pizza.
Ethan Couch was on probation for the DUI charge. In 2013, he killed four pedestrians in Fort Worth while driving drunk. He was sentenced only to rehab and probation after his attorney successfully argued that he was unable to tell right from wrong because he’d been raised in a wealthy family. In court, an expert psychologist used the term “affluenza” to describe Ethan Couch’s condition, the Star-Telegram reported at the time. Prosecutors had sought a 20-year prison sentence.
One condition of Couch’s probation was that he not drive and stay away from alcohol. But last month, a video on Twitter appeared to show Couch near people who were playing beer pong. That Twitter user added: “ya boy ethan couch violating probation.” Couch later failed to show up for a probation hearing.
Prior to Tonya Couch’s arrest, Texas authorities sought her arrest for aiding the flight of a wanted felon. She was flown to Los Angeles after her discovery in Mexico. On Tuesday, she waived her right to an extradition hearing. A Los Angeles County judge ordered her held without bail until Texas authorities can retrieve her.
Ethan Couch is fighting extradition from Mexico. A U.S. Marshal in Texas told the Los Angeles Times that the process could be lengthy. Because Couch was on probation as a juvenile, the newspaper said the most serious consequence for the probation violation could be 120 days in jail.
Updated on Jan. 7 to fix a typo.
