Ethan Anthony Couch (born April 11, 1997) is an American man who killed four people while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs on June 15, 2013, in Burleson, Texas. He was drunk, driving with a limited license and speeding up in a residential area when he lost control, collided with a group of people who helped other drivers with a defective SUV. Four people were killed in the crash and a total of nine people were wounded. Two passengers on the Couch truck were seriously injured, one with total paralysis.
The sofa was charged on four counts of poisoning for indiscriminately driving under the influence. In December 2013 Judge Jean Hudson Boyd sentenced Couch for ten years of probation and then ordered him to undergo therapy at a long-term inpatient facility, after his lawyers argued that the teenager had "affluenza" and needed rehabilitation rather than imprisonment. The sentence of the sofa, believed by many as very light, triggers the so-called "emotional, angry debate that has stretched far beyond the North Texas suburbs".
The sofa became a hunting subject and was registered with the National Fugitive Database on December 11, 2015, after the probation officer was unable to contact him. On December 28, 2015, authorities detained Couch and his mother in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta Mexico, Jalisco. On April 13, 2016, he was sentenced to two years in prison.
Video Ethan Couch
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Couch's parents married in Johnson County, Texas in 1996, and divorced in 2007. He grew up in Burleson and previously attended Anderson Private School.
The sofa escorted her to school at the age of thirteen. When the principal questioned the practice, his father threatened to buy the school. Sofa resigned from Anderson and began attending a co-op based in Watauga, Texas. At 15 he stopped attending the program. Before the incident he was enrolled in a college.
At the age of fifteen, Couch was quoted for "small in alcohol consumption" and "small in alcohol possession," after he was caught in a pickup truck parked naked, fainting a 14-year-old girl. He claimed there were no contests and was sentenced to probation, a mandatory alcohol awareness class, and 8 hours of community service.
Family history
Their parents also each had legal problems, published retrospectively in the media after their son's beliefs. Fred Couch had been accused of crimes, theft by inspection and assault, but the charges were fired. On August 19, 2014, he was arrested for impersonating a police officer, allegedly displaying a fake badge during a nuisance call. In 2013, Tonya Couch was sentenced to a $ 500 penalty and a six-month community supervision order for reckless driving when he used his vehicle to force other motorists out of the way.
Maps Ethan Couch
Crash
On the night of June 15, 2013, according to the authorities and court testimony, Couch was watched on a surveillance video stealing two cases of beer from a Walmart store, driving with seven passengers in his F-350 Ford F-350 2012 red pickup car, and speeding. at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) in the specified 40-mile per hour (64 km/h) zone.
About an hour after the theft of beer, Couch drove his father's truck at 70 miles per hour (110 km/h) on a rural road, two Burleson-Retta lanes where Sport SUme Sport Breanna Mitchell has stalled. Hollie Boyles and his daughter Shelby, who live nearby, have come out to help him, just as Brian Jennings has passed on. The Couch truck turned off the road and into Mitchell's SUV, then bumped into parked car Jennings, who then crashed into the Volkswagen Beetle. The truck then flips and crashes into a tree. Mitchell, Jennings, and both Boyles were killed, while Couch and his seven teenage passengers (none wearing seatbelts) survived (though one was paralyzed), as did two children in a Jennings car and two in Volkswagen.
Three hours after the incident, Couch had 0.24% blood alcohol, three times the legal limit for adult drivers in Texas, and he also tested positive for marijuana and Valium.
Trials and penalties
Sofa is filled with four counts of poisoning murders and two allegations of inactivity attacks. Tarrant's district prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment for Couch.
G. Dick Miller, a psychologist employed as an expert by defense, testified in court that the teenager was an affluenza product and could not relate his actions to the consequences because his parents taught him that wealth bought privileges. It was initially reported that, as part of the punishment, their son would be sent for adolescent substance abuse and mental health rehabilitation to Newport Academy, a high-end residential care center in Newport Beach, California at a cost of more than $ 450,000 per year. The facility offers a 90-day treatment program that includes horseback riding, mixed martial arts, massage and cuisine, interpretive dance therapy, swimming pool, basketball and six acres of land.
After the court hearing was closed to the public, Judge Boyd instead sentenced Couch to an unspecified lock-down rehabilitation facility at the expense of his parents; Sofa time should remain unspecified too. Sofa was ordered to stay away from drugs, alcohol, and driving. A trial on April 11, 2014, revealed that on February 19, 2014, Couch had begun treatment "at North Texas State Hospital, a state-owned mental health facility in the state" in Vernon, Texas. Although the daily rate for the treatment facility is $ 715, Couch's parents are ordered to pay $ 1,170 per month to stay there, based on the country's shear scale payment schedule. The reserved amount is the maximum allowed on the payment schedule. Couch's parents promised in court to pay the fees demanded for the care of their son.
At least one relative of the accident victims complained about the laxity of Couch's sentence and that Couch did not express his regret.
On April 13, 2016, a Texas judge tentatively ordered Couch to spend 720 days in jail. He was released from prison on April 2, 2018.
Reactions
After a probation sentence, the Tarrant County District Prosecutor's Office asked a juvenile judge to imprison Couch, on two counts of poisoning, said no verdicts were formally included for the indictment and "each case deserves a verdict."
A psychologist who disagrees with Couch - Dr. Suniya S. Luthar, specializing in "prosperity costs in suburban communities" - states that research shows the feeling of rights among affluent young people is a social issue, and that "we set double standards for the rich and the poor". Luthar asked, "What is the possibility if this is an African-American boy, in a city that grows in a violent environment for a single mother who is addicted to cracking and he is caught two or three times... is it likely that the judge will forgive his behavior and let him go because of how he grew up? "
Writing in The Guardian, Texas student Jessica Luther points out that the Couch family's ability to pay for personal therapy, their wealth, is intrinsic to the judges' reasoning because it gives Couch a mild penalty. An offender without their means will end up in a crowded and publicly endorsed Texas youth juvenile system where (the judge notes) The Sofa "may not get the kind of intensive therapy in state-run programs he can receive at a California facility advised by his lawyer".
Another psychologist - Robin S. Rosenberg - argues that Miller's defense does not make sense because Couch can tell that bad behavior has consequences in other areas of his life, and that punishment for luxury rehabilitation houses reinforces the message "that his wealth and privileges can remove the negative consequences of his criminal behavior ".
Critics also complained that district presiding judge Jean Boyd - gave a much tougher sentence to another 16-year-old drunk driver 10 years earlier. In February 2004, Boyd punished Eric Bradlee Miller for 20 years, telling him, "the court realizes that you have a miserable childhood... I hope you will take advantage of the services [offered by the Texas Youth Commission] and turn your life around. " Miller had killed one victim, not four, and had a much lower blood alcohol level (0.11% compared to Couch 0.24%) but came from a much poorer family.
However, according to The New York Times , it is unclear whether the Couch family's fortune contributed to his sentence. "[I] not infrequently children who are involved in drunk driving and other crimes cases to receive probation rather than jail time", and that sentence may be part of "a growing tendency to give young people a second chance through rehabilitation. " instead of trying him as an adult. "Judge Boyd also has a history before trying to put the youth in rehabilitation rather than jail.
Republican and Democratic candidates in Texas 2014 gubernatorial elections, respectively, Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis, commented on the sentence. Davis called it a "disgrace" and Abbott, Texas's attorney general, declared that his office wanted to appeal the case.
On February 5, 2014 hearing, Eric Boyles, whose wife and daughter were killed in the accident, said, "Had he not had the money to get a defense there, also asked the experts to testify, and also offered to pay for the treatment, I think the result would be different. "
Legal Charges
Five civil suits were filed by the families of four victims and two passengers between September and November 2013, against Couch, his family, and Cleburne Metal Works (doing business as Cleburne Sheet Metal, as truck-listed owner). The additional lawsuit was filed in December 2013, by the family of Isaiah McLaughlin, a passenger in Jennings' vehicle. Lawsuits filed by:
- Eric and Marguerite Boyles, husband and daughter of victim Hollie Boyles and father and sister of the victim Shelby Boyles
- Marla Mitchell, mother of Breanna Mitchell victims
- Shaunna Jennings, wife of victim Brian Jennings
- Maria Lemus and Jesus Molina, the parent of Sergio Molina's passenger
- Kevin and Alesia McConnell, Lucas McConnell's parents, who were passengers on Jennings' vehicle
- Timothy and Priscilla McLaughlin, Isaiah McLaughlin's parents, another passenger in Jennings' vehicle
The first lawsuit was filed by Maria Lemus and Sergio Molina on behalf of their son Sergio E. Molina, who climbed into Couch's truck bed and suffered a traumatic brain injury. According to the lawsuit petition, Molina's medical expenses exceeded about $ 600,000 at the time and could reach $ 10 million if she needed care at all times.
Five of the six suits (all except the McLaughlin suit) were consolidated in January 2014 to save on court costs. Jas McLaughlin and Mitchell were completed out of court in March 2014, and the Sergio Molina family reached an out-of-court settlement in May 2014. In November 2014, all clothing was completed with the exception of a lawsuit by McConnell, who had requested a jury trial.
In McConnell's lawsuit, the lawyer for the defendant submitted a mandamus mandate in July 2014 to prevent access to Dr. Miller; an emergency period was granted by the Texas Court of Appeals in August, but mandamus was subsequently rejected in September.
McConnell settings resolved in October 2015.
Blur and capture status
By the end of 2015, authorities begin investigating claims made on Twitter on December 2, 2015. Users post a video along with a statement stating that Couch has breached its probation. This video shows some young people playing beer pong at a party, one of which seems to be Couch. This behavior will be a direct violation of the Couch 10 year trial period if any alcohol consumption is involved. The consequences may include a retrial, which could mean a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to the Tarrant County District Procuratorate. The warrant was issued to Couch on December 11, 2015, after his probation officer was unable to contact him. On December 18, 2015, Couch and her mother were reported missing, and have not been reached after failing to make contact with the Couch trial officer. Couch game hunting became a federal issue in December 2015 with the US Marshals Agency, the FBI, and other agencies joining the suspect hunts believed to have fled the country. A $ 5,000 reward for information leading to the presence or capture of Ethan Couch is offered.
The sofa and his mother were found and arrested in Puerto Vallarta, in Jalisco, Mexico on December 28, 2015. Mexican authorities sent a couple to the immigration office in Guadalajara to be deported to the United States. Ethan Couch won a delay in deportation, based on a constitutional appeal in Mexico (see recurso de amparo ), and was transported to a detention facility in Mexico City. His mother was deported on Dec. 30 on a commercial flight to Los Angeles International Airport and was arrested on December 31 arrival by the Los Angeles Police Department on allegations of crime that hampered a criminal's understanding. He was initially arrested on bail of $ 1 million, but after his transfer back to Tarrant County, a judge downed his guarantee to $ 75,000 and he was released from jail on January 12, after installing the bond.
The sofa, after stopping its struggle to avoid being deported from Mexico, was flown back to the United States on January 28, 2016, and was held in custody before appearing in court on Feb. 19 regarding the case of the original teenage experiment being transferred to an adult. the court system. The case was transferred to the adult court system on February 19, 2016, and the court stated that Couch will remain in probation until 2024. On April 13, 2016, the court sentenced Couch to four consecutive consecutive 180 days in prison (one for each each victim of a 2013 car accident) equivalent to two years in prison, as punishment for drunk driving cases since 2013 due to his recent trip to Mexico.
Release
Sofa was released on April 2, 2018. It is mandatory that she wore an eye monitor, an alcohol detection patch, subject to drug tests and according to 9 pm. curfew. He will also have an interlock ignition device equipped with video mounted in his vehicle, this will prevent him from starting his car without passing the breathalyzer test, according to Mike Simonds of Tarrant City Sheriff's Office.
The non-profit organization Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) criticized Couch's release as "severe injustice," vowing to keep an eye on his case.
The 720 day Ethan Couch presented for his crimes indicates that drunk driving murder is still not treated as a violent crime that they... We will keep an eye on, as the case is revealed that there is so much work to do to get the drunk driver in charge.
See also
- Brock Turner, another criminal convicted criminal who - by the prosecutor and the victim suggests that it be lenient - spurs public anger.
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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