FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAN) – The Texas teen who used the “affluenza” defense in a deadly DWI crash, Ethan Couch, is expected to make his first court appearance as an adult at 9 a.m.
Couch turned 19-years-old on Monday and was moved to an adult facility in Fort Worth Tuesday night. He was being held in a juvenile facility since being recaptured in January after he and his mother, Tanya Couch, fled to Mexico. The pair left the country after a video surfaced of Couch drinking, which was in direct violation of his probation.Judge could do one of two things:
1.Order Couch to serve 120 days in jail before finishing the rest of his probation.
2.Or, release him and let him serve the rest of his 10 year probationIn-depth
In 2013, Couch was sentenced to 10 years of probation for a drunk driving crash that killed four people. During the trial, a psychologist described Couch, who was 16 at the time of the crash, as a rich kid whose parents didn’t set limits for him. The defense strategy of “affluenza” and Couch’s light sentence sparked outrage.
Last December, he and his mother left the country after a video showed the teen at a party where alcohol was served; violating his probation. Both Couchs were found in Mexico several weeks alter. Tonya faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of hindering the apprehension of a felon.