Ethan Couch, ’Affluenza’ Killer Of Four, Wanted For Evading Probation Officer
Ethan Couch, the teenager who ran over and killed four people in a tragic DUI crash in 2013, will be arrested and may spend 10 years in jail after he failed to maintain communication with his probation officer.
According to a statement released by Couch’s attorneys, Reagan Wynn and Scott Brown, a juvenile probation officer has been unable to contact Ethan and his mother, Tonya Couch, for several days.
#Breaking: There’s a warrant for the arrest of “Affluenza” teen Ethan Couch. Probation officer could not find him. pic.twitter.com/A0tZn0vtXz
— CBSDFW (@CBSDFW) December 15, 2015
As a result, the court has issued a directive to apprehend, which is the equivalent of an arrest warrant in a juvenile court, in order for Ethan to be detained.
Couch’s 10-year probation requires him to keep a constant communication with his probation officer. Violation of this probation could lead to a 10-year sentence.
Aside from the communication issues, investigators are also looking into a video that allegedly shows Couch, 18, with several other young men playing “beer pong,” a game where players throw or attempt to hit a ping poll ball into cups of beer.
The video was posted online on December 2, and the person who uploaded it accused Ethan of violating his probation terms. In addition, the uploader, who goes by the Twitter handle “Blonde Spectre,” said that she has more evidence to back up her claims.
ya boy ethan couch violating probation. i got more if u want @CityofBurleson @TarrantCountyDA pic.twitter.com/otiGprQ1uD
— h (@BlondeSpectre) December 2, 2015
The user, whose name is Hannah Hardee, 21, claimed that she was not at the party, but just found the video on Twitter and saved it.
“It was just making me mad that they were not taking any of this seriously. And after seeing the interviews with the victims’ families and stuff, it just really gets to me,” she said.
The District Attorney’s Office in Tarrant County said that they will aim to speak with everyone involved in the party, which took place in October.
Juvenile court prosecutor Riley Shaw will also look into the video and take the necessary steps.
Ethan Couch’s probation prohibits him from drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or driving. He is also required to attend a rehab facility.
Couch killed four people in June of 2013 while he was driving a Ford pickup while intoxicated. Reports said that he and his friends stole beer from a Walmart store and drove off.
Ethan hit 24-year-old Breanna Mitchell, whose SUV had broken down. Three people who were near Mitchell to help – youth pastor Brian Jennings, 41, Hollie Boyles, 52, and her daughter, Shelby Boyles, 21 – were killed as well.
Watch The Story Of How Rich Kid Ethan Couch Killed Four People At 16 Years Old
There were also seven people who were on board the Ford pickup, two of which were thrown out and sustained serious injuries. One victim, who suffered a serious brain injury, sued the Couch family for $2 million.
Couch had a blood alcohol content of 0.24, which is three times the legal limit. Considering that the test was conducted three hours after the incident, Couch’s blood alcohol level had probably been higher when he was driving the pickup.
Prosecutors wanted Couch to get a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, although a psychologist said that the suspect is suffering from “affluenza.” His broken home reportedly left him “without a sense of responsibility.”
Is “Affluenza” A Real Medical Condition?
As a result, the psychologist argued, his parents were also partly to blame because they spoiled Ethan and did not teach him to become responsible.
The term, as well as the decision of the court to give Couch a 10-year probation, sparked public outrage, wherein justice advocates questioned how a DUI suspect could be freed from prison and given probation.
While the case is still in juvenile court, the Tarrant County district attorney’s office has already filed a motion to move the case to the adult district court after Couch turns 19 in April.
The father of “affluenza teen” Ethan Couch has been arrested for allegedly impersonating a cop. http://t.co/tUP212O01d
— Gawker (@Gawker) August 20, 2014
Ethan Couch’s father, Fred Couch, was also involved in an incident last year after he impersonated a police officer. He was arrested in August of 2014.
