“Affluenza” Teen Back in Texas

Mexican officials put him on the flight in Mexico City after he had been in immigration custody for 28 days.

He fled to Mexico with his mother in December after a video emerged on social media that likely showed him in violation of the probation deal reached in juvenile court that kept him out of prison for causing the deadly crash in 2013.

The two fugitives were apprehended later that month in the Mexican resort town of Puerto Vallarta after he used his cell phone to order Domino’s pizza.

“Now that Ethan is back in Tarrant County and will be personally present in court at the upcoming hearing on the State’s Motion to Transfer, we anticipate that the Court will lawfully transfer his probation to an appropriate Tarrant County District Court with adult criminal jurisdiction”. Couch will be screened for any medical issues and officially assigned to a housing unit in the Tarrant County Juvenile Detention Center.

His mother, who is facing a felony charge of hindering apprehension, was sent back to the USA and was released after posting bail.

Tonya Couch didn’t fight extradition to the USA and was brought to North Texas on January 7. Reagan Wynn released the following statement to News 8 Thursday afternoon, stating that they are “optimistic” Couch will be compliant with adult court. He is due to appear in court February 19 for a hearing to determine whether or not his case will be moved to the adult court system in time for his 19th birthday in April.

Investigators say Couch and his mother, Tonya, fled to Mexico late past year after the teen potentially violated his probation.

A Texas teen – infamous for his “affluenza” defence in a fatal drunk-driving accident – arrived Thursday in Dallas to face charges after he was deported from Mexico.

During Ethan Couch’s trial, a defense witness said the teen was coddled into a sense of irresponsibility by his wealthy parents, a condition the expert called “affluenza”.

The judge will decide whether to continue to hold Couch at a juvenile facility, to book him in an adult jail or to let him go.

If Couch is transferred and is caught violating his probation again, he could face up to 10 years in prison for each death, the Guardian notes.

It’s been less than 48 hours since Couch dropped his appeal against deportation. Couch was escorted onto a commercial plane, en route to Dallas, Thursday morning.

His sentencing drew public outrage, which intensified in early December after a viral Twitter video claimed to show him at a party where alcohol was being served.