Judge reduces bond for mother of Texas ‘affluenza’ teen

Authorities say Tonya Couch took $30,000 and fled with Ethan to Mexico out of fear that her son would face prison for violating his probation. The 48-year-old mother also reportedly told Ethan’s father, Fred Couch, that he would never see his son again. McWilliams has offered to pay his mother’s legal fees, he said in testimony during Monday’s hearing.

The affluenza diagnosis, which is not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, was widely ridiculed.

Tonya Couch is escorted to a waiting vehicle after her arrival to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016.

Before he went to Mexico, Ethan Couch was on probation for killing four people in a drunken driving accident in 2013, when he was 16 years old. She’s charged with hindering apprehension of her son, “affluenza” fugitive Ethan Couch.

Salvant said it was clear she could not post a bond on $1 million bail, and that it was set that high only to keep her in jail, which would be considered oppressive under the law. She was arraigned Friday in Fort Worth, Texas and held on $1 million bond.

The mental examination will determine whether there is clinical evidence to support the argument that Tonya Couch may be incompetent to stand trial.

Ethan Couch and his mother lost their pooch, Virgil, during a scramble for freedom in Puerto Vallarta, a resort town in Mexico where they were hiding. Tonya Couch has a bond hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m.at the Tarrant County Justice Center and she is asking for a big bond reduction.

Ethan and his mom, Tonya Couch, were holed up in a swanky Los Tules resort the night they were captured.

Law enforcement officials believe the mother and son had a going away party shortly before driving across the border in her pickup truck, making their way to Puerto Vallarta.

“Just another victim of Ethan Couch, his mother and affluenza!” Ethan Couch was sentenced to 10 years probation a few years ago after he was convicted on four counts of intoxication manslaughter. The teen didn’t have his own ID, however, Gabbert said.

Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson told reporters earlier in the day there was a possibility she could run again.