But Ethan Couch’s return to the USA remains uncertain, more than a week after he and his mother were picked up by Mexican immigration authorities, reports CBS News correspondent Manuel Bojorquez.
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The woman who fled to Mexico with her son, who is wanted for a probation violation in the so-called “Affluenza case”, was flown to Los Angeles and turned over to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Her attorneys have previously released a statement saying they do not believe that she has broken any Texas laws.
Tonya has been charged with a felony for helping her son escape and her bond has been set at $1 million.
Meanwhile, Couch’s mother is still being held in a Los Angeles jail without bail, after Mexican officials deported her last week for staying in the country illegally.
Ethan Couch missed a required check-in with Texas authorities earlier this month after video surfaced showing him at a party where drinking was occurring.
If convicted of the hindering charge, she could face two to 10 years in prison.
“While the public may not like what she did, may not agree with what she did, or may have strong feelings against what she did, make no mistake – Tonya did not violate any law of the State of Texas and she is eager to have her day in court”, lawyers Stephanie K. Patten and Steve Gordon said. Sam Jordan, a spokeswoman for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, said in an email to The Post that officials were still waiting to hear specific details, but “generally expect” that she would be in Texas this week.
“The correct legal proceeding here is actually an extradition”, said Nicole DeBorde, a criminal defense attorney.
Ethan Couch is still being held in Mexico City.
“It would be a tough sell for the U.S.to tell Mexico, ‘you know what, this man was tried as a juvenile, pled guilty, was handed down his sentence and now five years later we don’t think the sentence is fair and we want to retry him as an adult, ‘ ” Benítez said.
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The Couches had filed an injunction to delay their extradition and a judge in Mexico would have up to 72 hours to consider the injunction, they said. The condition is not recognized as a medical diagnosis by the American Psychiatric Association, and its invocation drew ridicule.
