Release of ‘affluenza’ teen’s mom expected Tuesday

At the 2013 trial of a drunken-driving incident where Ethan killed four people, a psychologist on behalf of the defense had testified that Ethan was suffering from “affluenza”, stemming from his irresponsible lifestyle because of his affluent upbringing; as a result of which his judgement was affected and he couldn’t tell right from wrong. “We’re talking about a third-degree felony”.

In a tweet Monday night, Sheriff Dee Anderson says Tonya Couch posted bond and was expected to be released Tuesday morning after being fitted with a Global Positioning System monitor, “barring any unseen delays”. “I just don’t believe from everything I’ve heard today it should be a million dollars”.

Couch spent the weekend in the Tarrant County jail after returning to North Texas from California. The case drew widespread derision after an expert called by Ethan Couch’s lawyers argued he had been coddled into a sense of irresponsibility by his wealthy parents, a condition the expert called “affluenza”. Affluenza is not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.

Authorities accuse Tonya Couch of helping her son Ethan Couch leave the country to avoid a probation hearing that may have led to jail time. A video posted online appeared to show Ethan Couch at a party where beer pong was being played.

The search for Couch and her son began after he missed one of his monthly check-ins, a condition of his probation. They had moved on by the time authorities arrived, but a witness directed police to an apartment in Puerto Vallarta’s old town.

“I saw them together on the news”, McWilliams said.

A juvenile court judge gave Couch 10 years’ probation, outraging prosecutors who had called for the teen to face detention time. She will also have to submit to weekly check-ins and will be required to undergo regular drug testing.

A search warrant of bank and phone records found Tonya Couch had withdrawn $30,000 from a personal account and there was no other activity after December 3.

Fred and Tonya Couch divorced in 2006. They fled after Ethan Couch was accused of potentially violating his probation.