Taxpayers pick up bulk of rehab bill for 'affluenza' Texan

Legion Troll

A fine upstanding poster
Taxpayers picked up most of the $200,000 bill for the so-called affluenza teen's court-ordered rehabilitation in a probation deal that kept him out of prison for killing four while driving drunk, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Ethan Couch, who turned 19 this week and was 16 at the time of the incident, will be in a Tarrant County adult court on Wednesday for a likely determination of how much time behind bars he must spend for violating the probation deal.

Taxpayers paid more than $150,000 of the bill for his year-long rehabilitation because his parents were unable to pay for all of the treatment, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram said, citing court documents.

A psychologist testified for the defense that Couch was so spoiled by his wealthy parents he could not tell right from wrong. The psychologist described the affliction as "affluenza," a term that quickly became a media buzzword.

Couch was sentenced to 10 years' probation, during which he was to remain alcohol- and drug-free. The sentence sparked outrage from critics who ridiculed the affluenza defense and said his family's wealth helped the teen stay out of jail.

Couch and his mother, Tonya Couch, fled Texas in December, apparently to avoid arrest for violating the drink- and drug-free probation deal after video on social media appeared to show him at a party where alcohol was being consumed.

Ethan Couch has been in custody since he was brought back from Mexico.


http://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-affluenza-idUSKCN0X92SN
 
Ethan Couch appeared in adult court for the first time Wednesday.

The “affluenza” teen turned 19 on Monday. At that point, his case moved out of the juvenile system.

On Wednesday Criminal Court District Judge Wayne Salvant gave him terms of his probation -- including staying away from drugs and alcohol -- and said Couch must remain in jail.


http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/ethan-couch-to-appear-in-adult-court-wednesday/129601832
 
Back
Top