Texas teenager known for his "affluenza" defense on court following fatal drunk-driving wreck incident was sentenced with a new jail term on Wednesday. His case was transferred out of the juvenile system into an adult jail in February.
Ethan Couch, 19 years old, who appeared in adult court for the first time before county Judge Wayne Salvant, was sentenced to serve four consecutive 180-day terms in jail over four deaths in the June 2013 crash, according to Reuters. "You are not getting out of jail today," Salvant told the defendant. A gag order has been issued by the court judge for the case. The court also accepted its defense motion for a confidential juvenile records.
Couch, who turned 19 on Monday, killed four people after driving under the influence of alcohol in 2013. During his juvenile court hearing, Couch, was 16 at that time of the incident, used "affluenza" in defense. A psychologist testified, and suggested Couch had "affluenza," and blamed Couch's parents, who spoiled him in money and for not teaching him right and wrong, Daily News reported.
The Daily Mail reported, Couch was first sentenced to 10 years on probation for the fatal crash incident that left four people dead, including a youth pastor and a mother and daughter. Two passengers in Couch's car were severely injured. No longer a minor, Couch faced heavy punishment for violating his parole.
Couch and his mother, Tonya Couch left their home and fled to Mexico in December, after a video surfaced apparently showing as evidence that he had been drinking alcohol. The two were arrested in the Mexican resort city of Puerto Vallarta weeks later. Tonya Couch was charged with helping her son flee to Mexico. She was released on bail and is under home confinement awaiting trial.
Couch has been in custody since. Fred Couch, the defendant's father was present at Wednesday's hearing. He did not respond to questions regarding the sentence as he left the courthouse.
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