Affluenza Teen’s Case Moved to Adult Court

Ethan Couch, the Texas teenager who in 2013 was responsible for a drunk driving accident that killed four people, was informed by a judge last week that his case will soon be transferred from the juvenile court system to adult court.

Couch gained national attention and earned the infamous “affluenza teen” nickname when the fabricated term was used on the stand by a psychologist testifying on his behalf to describe his wealthy, consequence free upbringing. The psychologist claimed that this “condition” was more to blame for the tragedy than the teen himself.

Instead of facing jail time, Couch was placed on probation for 10 years. Then in December 2015, a video showing Couch attending a party at which alcohol was being consumed, a violation of the terms of his probation, surfaced online. Shortly thereafter, the teen and his mother fled the country only to be arrested two weeks later in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and deported back to Texas.

Since that time, Couch has been detained in the Tarrant County maximum security jail, spending 23 hours a day in solitary confinement. The transfer of his case to the adult court system means that the 18-year-old Couch, who was 16 at the time of the accident, could face the possibility of jail time.

At this time, a hearing to set his new probationary terms has not yet been scheduled.

In the aftermath of accidents with lasting and tragic outcomes, the rights of victims must be protected. If you or a loved one has been affected by the irresponsible actions of a drunk driver, the trained and professional personal injury lawyers at Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn, LLP can help.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation to learn more about the legal options available to you.

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