The Texas teen who became a fugitive after allegedly violating his probation sentence for killing four people in a drunken-driving crash was detained in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Monday.
Ethan Couch and his mother were wanted in Tarrant County, Texas, after vanishing two weeks ago after he was sentenced to probation about two years ago in court for intoxication manslaughter.
Couch, the ‘affluenza’ teen, is expected to be turned over to the US Marshals Service and his mother Tonya was also detained, according to a CNN report, citing officials briefed on the matter.
The public affairs department of the prosecutors’ office in Mexico’s Jalisco state confirmed that the mother and son were detained in Puerto Vallarta around 6.00pm Monday.
The prosecutor’s office said the pair were being held by Mexico’s immigration authorities because they could not prove their legal status in the country.
Couch had dyed his hair brown to disguise himself when the pair went on the run – but didn’t shave off his beard.
In a new arrest photo released by the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office Monday, the 18-year-old is seen in a short-sleeve, button-down shirt opened nearly down to his navel, and with his hands cuffed behind his back.
The ‘affluenza’ nickname for the 18-year-old came from a psychologist who said during Couch’s trial he was so wealthy and spoiled he could not tell the difference between right and wrong.
The American Psychiatric Association does not recognize ‘affluenza’ as a diagnosis and Couch’s sentence to ten years of probation – instead of 20 years of prison time – sparked outrage.
Couch vanished and his mother was listed as a missing person by Texas authorities shortly after a video came out that appeared to show him at a beer-pong party, in likely violation of his probation.
Officials said it ‘certainly looks like him’ in the video, but cannot yet prove he violated probation.
Couch’s attorneys, Scott Brown and William Reagan Wynn, said they knew authorities were looking into their client appeared in the video, but would not confirm or deny it was him at the drinking party.
They said: ‘It would not be prudent for us to make any further statement on Ethan’s behalf until the investigations are concluded and it is determined what, if any, action will be taken against him.’
If found to be drinking, Couch’s probation could be revoked and he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
It is unclear at this time of Ethan’s mother, Tonya Couch, will face any charges in connection to her son’s flight across the border.
In a news release after Couch and his mother vanished, the Marshals Service said: ‘U.S. Marshals are working in conjunction with state, local, and federal agencies in the apprehension of Couch.
‘A reward of up to five thousand dollars is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of Couch.’
Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson said before Couch’s arrest: ‘You can run, but you’re always going to be looking over your shoulder. We’re not going to give up.
‘We’re going to come after you. We’re going to find you, wherever you are.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3377037/Affluenza-teen-Ethan-Couch-arrested-Mexico-turned-U-S-Marshals-Service.html#ixzz3vidglnkF
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Turned over to US Marshals, eh? Right! So they can bribe the guy and get released! Stupid Mexicans! What they shoulda done was jail them in Mexico for 20 years or release them after being paid 100 mil in bribe! (Even for some rich asshole, 100 mil for a worthless teen is a lot of money!) That way, Mr. Affluenza could be raped till he dropped as would his mother be…folks the only way to get rid of affluenza is to spend 20 years in misery…better here on Earth than the Lake of Fire…