Couch was sentenced to 10 years probation three years ago, after he was convicted of killing four people and severely injuring two others in a deadly drunk driving crash.
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A photograph released by the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office shows American teen Ethan Couch, who was detained in Mexico on December 28, 2015.
The case against the Texas teenager who famously used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunk-driving crash will be moved to adult court, a judge ruled Friday.
The transfer to adult court means that the remainder of Couch’s 10-year probation will be under adult supervision.
Couch’s attorney Scott Brown addressed reporters. She remains on 24-hour home confinement as she faces a felony charge of hindering apprehension for fleeing to Mexico with her son.
Couch will remain in the Tarrant County Jail for another 10 days awaiting the judge’s decision on his probation.
On Feb. 5, 2015, Couch was moved from a juvenile detention facility to an adult jail in Fort Worth.
Couch has been in custody since he was brought back from Mexico last month. At that point, he will be assigned to a new judge in adult court who may revise the conditions of his probation.
The Inquisitr reports that Couch was already awaiting his adult court date, February 19, while sitting in an adult prison the entire time.
While the judge ultimately declined to accept that the boy’s parents were at fault, citing instead the state’s efforts to focus on rehabilitation of young offenders rather than punishment as he passed judgement, the leniency of the sentence nonetheless sparked fierce debate.
Shaw added that he believes the judge shouldn’t credit Couch with jail time already served as a juvenile. Lemus asked. Molina then blinked and tried lifting his leg. “They got so much money – they can’t pay for nothing?” he says.
After the hearing, Brown said he would not request any specific terms of probation for Couch.
But rather than waiting to see if the probation would be revoked and he’d have to face jail time, he fled with his mother to Puerto Vallarta. Following the brief transfer hearing, Tarrant County Sheriff deputies escorted a quiet and handcuffed Couch from the courthouse.
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Her son initially fought deportation but later dropped the fight and returned to Texas in late January.
