Tonya Couch, bottom center, the mother of a Texas teen who used an “affluenza” defense in a drunken wreck, leaves Tarrant County Jail, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, in Fort Worth, Texas.
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Her release comes a day after a judge lowered her bond from $1 million to $75,000. It is unclear what time she will be released Tuesday.
The Sheriff and his spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday on whether Couch had been released from jail.
#TonyaCouch refuses to answer questions as she walks out of jail.
Couch will face a series of restrictions, including the monitor.
Tarrant County authorities said that Ethan Couch missed a December 10 meeting with his probation officer and allege his mother withdrew $30,000 before fleeing with her son to Mexico.
Shortly after Tarrant County Judge Wayne Salvant set her bond last week, Tonya Couch’s attorney, Stephanie Patten, filed a motion asking for the bond to be reduced. Sheriff Anderson said he did not ask her about the case.
Report to authorities on a weekly basis.
Abstain from using controlled substances or alcohol (she’ll be drug tested). “She will be confined to her son’s house except for visits to doctors and her attorney”.
Pay a monthly $60 supervision fee. Authorities have previously said they had no evidence Fred Couch, who owns a North Texas sheet metal factory, was involved in helping Tonya and Ethan Couch flee.
The judge’s order was issued Friday and must be completed within 30 days. Meanwhile, her son Ethan remains detained in Mexico, fighting extradition.
Darran Gabbert said he interviewed several people who said Tonya and Ethan Couch attended a “planning” meeting with a number of Ethan’s friends prior to them leaving for Mexico.
Ethan, 18, killed four people in a 2013 crash and was facing allegations that he violated his probation. Even more important to MADD officials, the judge could also extend his probation beyond his 19th birthday, putting Couch under the threat of a much harsher sentence if he were to ever again be found in violation. During his trial, his defense argued he suffered from “affluenza”, meaning he was raised in such privilege he was unable to understand the consequences of his actions.
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Ethan Couch is still in Mexico, and his return to the United States largely depends on whether he decides to contest his deportation.
