This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/30/us/affluenza-ethan-couch-mexico.html

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ethan Couch, ‘Affluenza’ Defense Fugitive, Is Arrested in Mexico Ethan Couch, ‘Affluenza’ Defense Fugitive, Is Arrested in Mexico
(35 minutes later)
A Texas teenager who was given probation after killing four people while driving drunk was arrested Monday evening in the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta, where he had fled with his mother, according to Mexican and American officials.A Texas teenager who was given probation after killing four people while driving drunk was arrested Monday evening in the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta, where he had fled with his mother, according to Mexican and American officials.
The teenager, Ethan Couch, was given leniency in a 2013 drunken-driving case after his lawyers argued that he had “affluenza,” or psychological problems stemming from his family’s wealth.The teenager, Ethan Couch, was given leniency in a 2013 drunken-driving case after his lawyers argued that he had “affluenza,” or psychological problems stemming from his family’s wealth.
Mr. Couch, 18, and his mother, Tonya Couch, 48, disappeared several weeks ago, as local officials were examining whether he had violated the terms of his probation, and they were declared fugitives.Mr. Couch, 18, and his mother, Tonya Couch, 48, disappeared several weeks ago, as local officials were examining whether he had violated the terms of his probation, and they were declared fugitives.
They were arrested at 6 p.m. Monday in Colonia 5 de Diciembre, a neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, according to a statement that the prosecutor’s office in Jalisco State provided to ABC News.They were arrested at 6 p.m. Monday in Colonia 5 de Diciembre, a neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta, according to a statement that the prosecutor’s office in Jalisco State provided to ABC News.
Since Saturday, Mexican officials had worked with the United States Marshals Service, through the American Consulate in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco State, to search for the pair, according to the statement. It added that Mr. Couch and his mother had been handed over to Mexico’s National Institute of Migration for being in the country unlawfully, and that they would be returned to the United States.Since Saturday, Mexican officials had worked with the United States Marshals Service, through the American Consulate in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco State, to search for the pair, according to the statement. It added that Mr. Couch and his mother had been handed over to Mexico’s National Institute of Migration for being in the country unlawfully, and that they would be returned to the United States.
The district attorney in Tarrant County, Tex., Sharen Wilson, also confirmed the arrests in an interview with WFAA-TV in Dallas.The district attorney in Tarrant County, Tex., Sharen Wilson, also confirmed the arrests in an interview with WFAA-TV in Dallas.
ABC News released a photograph of Mr. Couch, provided by the Jalisco State prosecutor’s office, that showed the blond teenager with noticeably darker hair and a dark brown beard.ABC News released a photograph of Mr. Couch, provided by the Jalisco State prosecutor’s office, that showed the blond teenager with noticeably darker hair and a dark brown beard.
The Couch case crystallized widespread outrage that rich, white defendants like Mr. Couch receive more lenient treatment than poor, minority defendants.The Couch case crystallized widespread outrage that rich, white defendants like Mr. Couch receive more lenient treatment than poor, minority defendants.
What was striking about Mr. Couch’s defense was that his lawyers argued that he deserved leniency precisely because of his privileged upbringing. His lawyer called as a witness a psychologist who claimed that Mr. Couch had affluenza, meaning he was too spoiled to know right from wrong.What was striking about Mr. Couch’s defense was that his lawyers argued that he deserved leniency precisely because of his privileged upbringing. His lawyer called as a witness a psychologist who claimed that Mr. Couch had affluenza, meaning he was too spoiled to know right from wrong.
The defense’s case drew angry reactions, as did the result: A judge sentenced Mr. Couch, who was 16 at the time of the accident, to probation, not the prison sentence prosecutors had requested, and prohibited him from drinking. A headline on an article about the case in TheWeek.com read, “Being rich is now a get-out-of-jail-free card.” The defense’s case drew angry reactions, as did the result: A judge sentenced Mr. Couch, who was 16 at the time of the accident, to probation, not to the prison sentence prosecutors had requested, and prohibited him from drinking. A headline on an article about the case in TheWeek.com read, “Being rich is now a get-out-of-jail-free card.”
In November, the Tarrant County district attorney’s office asked that his case be transferred from juvenile court to adult court, which could impose stricter probation terms. Then, this month, a Twitter user posted a six-second video that appeared to show Mr. Couch, barely out of a rehabilitation program, at a drinking party with other youths, and prosecutors began looking into whether he had violated the terms of his probation, which could result in up to 10 years in prison. In November, the Tarrant County district attorney’s office asked that Mr. Couch’s case be transferred from juvenile court to adult court, which could impose stricter probation terms. Then, this month, a Twitter user posted a six-second video that appeared to show Mr. Couch, barely out of a rehabilitation program, at a drinking party with other youths, and prosecutors began looking into whether he had violated the terms of his probation, which could result in up to 10 years in prison.
Days later, Mr. Couch and his mother disappeared. His probation officer could not find him, he was entered in the national fugitive database, and the juvenile court issued the equivalent of an arrest warrant for him. The authorities said they believed Mrs. Couch had helped her son flee, and they declared her a missing person. Days later, Mr. Couch and his mother disappeared. His probation officer could not find him, he was entered in the national fugitives database, and the juvenile court issued the equivalent of an arrest warrant for him. The authorities said they believed Mrs. Couch had helped her son flee, and they declared her a missing person.
The case dates from June 15, 2013, when Mr. Couch and some friends stole beer from a store and later went for a drive with him at the wheel. Speeding on a dark country road outside Burleson, a suburb of Fort Worth, he plowed a pickup truck into four pedestrians, killing all of them, and hit two vehicles before his truck flipped over. A teenager who was among Mr. Couch’s passengers was thrown from the vehicle and experienced paralysis and brain damage.The case dates from June 15, 2013, when Mr. Couch and some friends stole beer from a store and later went for a drive with him at the wheel. Speeding on a dark country road outside Burleson, a suburb of Fort Worth, he plowed a pickup truck into four pedestrians, killing all of them, and hit two vehicles before his truck flipped over. A teenager who was among Mr. Couch’s passengers was thrown from the vehicle and experienced paralysis and brain damage.
Hours later, Mr. Couch recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit for drivers of drinking age, and he tested positive for prescription sedatives. He later pleaded guilty to charges including four counts of manslaughter.Hours later, Mr. Couch recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit for drivers of drinking age, and he tested positive for prescription sedatives. He later pleaded guilty to charges including four counts of manslaughter.