‘Affluenza’ Teen’s Mom Sent Back to Texas From LA

The mother of “affluenza” teen Ethan Couch was flown Thursday from Los Angeles to Texas, where she is facing a felony charge for allegedly helping her 18-year-old son flee to Mexico while he was on probation in a case stemming from a deadly drunken driving crash. Couch, who is being held on a $1 million bond, has not spoken about the incident.

“We have also never seen or heard of a sheriff taking the additional unprecedented step that he took earlier today of interrogating her while in custody at court today (surrounded by four deputies) and while clearly represented by counsel, but without her counsel present!” the lawyers said. Couch said that she is married to Fred Couch.

Meanwhile Ethan Couch remains in Mexico, where he and his mother were arrested last week.

“I explained to her that this was a jail, not a resort”, Anderson said.

The judge said if Tonya Couch is released on bail, she will have to wear an ankle monitor and turn in a passport, which will be hard if the Mexican authorities have it.

She spent a restless night and complained about her accommodations, County Sheriff Dee Anderson told reporters at the court.

They disappeared shortly after a video surfaced showing what appears to be Ethan Couch at a party where people were drinking.

We would ask now that Ms. Couch is back in Tarrant County, that the process now begin in an orderly and lawful way, as it has for many years in this County without the need to resort to political posturing.

Sheriff Anderson said Thursday, “it’s not a question of if he’s coming back, it’s a question of when he’s coming back”.

Couch, 48, has not yet entered a plea.

During Ethan Couch’s trial for the 2013 accident, a psychologist testified that the teen, then 16, suffered from “affluenza”, meaning he had lost the ability to recognise right from wrong after being spoiled by his wealthy family.

The condition is not recognised as a medical diagnosis by the American Psychiatric Association, and its invocation drew widespread ridicule.

Ethan Couch pleaded guilty in juvenile court in 2013 to four counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault causing serious bodily injury after a drunk driving wreck killed four and injured others.