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Ethan Couch, ‘Affluenza’ Defense Fugitive, Arrested in Mexico Ethan Couch, ‘Affluenza’ Defense Fugitive, Arrested in Mexico
(about 3 hours 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, along with his mother, in the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta, where they had fled to avoid a possible prison term for him, according to Mexican and American officials.
The teenager, Ethan Couch, was shown leniency in the 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 shown leniency in the 2013 drunken-driving case after a psychologist testified that he had “affluenza,” or psychological problems stemming from his family’s wealth.
Dave Oney, a spokesman for the United States Marshals Service, said that Mr. Couch, 18, and his mother, Tonya Couch, 48, were being held by the Mexican authorities. “We’re working to get him back up here,” Mr. Oney said, “but we don’t know when.”Dave Oney, a spokesman for the United States Marshals Service, said that Mr. Couch, 18, and his mother, Tonya Couch, 48, were being held by the Mexican authorities. “We’re working to get him back up here,” Mr. Oney said, “but we don’t know when.”
The mother and son disappeared several weeks ago, as local officials were examining whether Mr. Couch had violated the terms of his probation, and he was declared a fugitive.The mother and son disappeared several weeks ago, as local officials were examining whether Mr. Couch had violated the terms of his probation, and he was declared a fugitive.
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. Mexican authorities arrested them at 6 p.m. Monday in Colonia 5 de Diciembre, a neighborhood on the southern end of Puerto Vallarta, according to the Jalisco State prosecutor’s office. State officials said the pair were taken into custody near the intersection of Colombia and Argentina Streets, just three blocks from the beach, in an area teeming with American tourists.
Since Saturday, Mexican officials had worked with the Marshals Service, through the American Consulate in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco State, to search for the pair, according to the statement. It said Mr. Couch and his mother had been handed over to the Mexico’s National Institute of Migration for being in the country unlawfully, and that they would be returned to the United States. On Saturday, the Marshals Service, through the American Consulate in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco State, notified Mexican officials that Mr. Couch and his mother might be in Puerto Vallarta, and asked the local authorities to search for them, Jalisco officials said. After their apprehension, the Couches were handed over to the Mexico’s National Institute of Migration for being in the country unlawfully, the prosecutor’s office said they would be returned to the United States.
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. A Jalisco official said that Mr. Couch had changed his appearance, darkening his blond hair and red beard.
The Couch case crystallized widespread outrage that rich, white defendants like Mr. Couch receive more lenient treatment than poor, minority ones. If was not clear how the fugitives reached Puerto Vallarta, how long they had been there, how the American authorities traced them there, how the pair supported themselves on the run or whether anyone had helped them.
Two years ago, the case crystallized widespread outrage that rich, white defendants like Mr. Couch receive more lenient treatment than poor, minority ones.
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 to the prison sentence prosecutors had requested, She also 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 argument drew angry reactions, as did its 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, She also 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 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.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 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.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 to 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 was left paralyzed and brain damaged.The case dates to 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 was left paralyzed and brain damaged.
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.