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Texas 'affluenza' teen taken into custody, official says

Lutherf said:
I understand where you are coming from but this kid is beyond redemption. No doubt he hasn't had a positive role model in his family and that sucks for him but at this point in his life he isn't going to turn around.
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What makes you so determined that he's "beyond redemption"? Did he have a criminal record of any kind before he got in trouble at 16 - two years ago? Did he abuse his parole in the subsequent years after his trial and before he bugged out with his mom? I'm more inclined to believe that if he got separated from his parents - and at 18 he's now a man under the law and should be able to fend for himself - he might be a pretty good member of society going forward. At least, at this point, I'm willing to lean that way having nothing in his past to suggest he's beyond redemption.
 
CanadaJohn said:
What makes you so determined that he's "beyond redemption"? Did he have a criminal record of any kind before he got in trouble at 16 - two years ago? Did he abuse his parole in the subsequent years after his trial and before he bugged out with his mom? I'm more inclined to believe that if he got separated from his parents - and at 18 he's now a man under the law and should be able to fend for himself - he might be a pretty good member of society going forward. At least, at this point, I'm willing to lean that way having nothing in his past to suggest he's beyond redemption.
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My understanding is that he skipped out on the probation meeting because he got caught on camera drinking and "table diving" into a beer pong game. God is the only one who can redeem this kid and as far as I'm concerned it's societies responsibility to nail the little **** to the floor so God can find him easier.
 
Lutherf said:
My understanding is that he skipped out on the probation meeting because he got caught on camera drinking and "table diving" into a beer pong game. God is the only one who can redeem this kid and as far as I'm concerned it's societies responsibility to nail the little **** to the floor so God can find him easier.
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Fair enough - but I don't agree. Imagine the prisons you'd need to build to hold 18yr olds drinking? No wonder America has the largest per capita prison population in the civilized world.
 
CanadaJohn said:
Fair enough - but I don't agree. Imagine the prisons you'd need to build to hold 18yr olds drinking? No wonder America has the largest per capita prison population in the civilized world.
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His drinking isn't the problem. The fact that he has never suffered consequences for his behavior is the problem.
 
Lutherf said:
His drinking isn't the problem. The fact that he has never suffered consequences for his behavior is the problem.
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We can agree on that. Maybe 30 days in detention followed by more stringent parole conditions - maybe residence in a halfway house, away from his parents, as an example, where he gets some counselling and job training, etc. - would be a good compromise, in my view. Trying to impose what many consider a more appropriate sentence for his underlying crime would be very wrong, in my view.
 
He should be immediately incarcerated for those 10 years and his mother should be given the max punishment. Where's the father? I haven't heard about him?
 
CMPancake said:
Good luck finding the means to get to one of the few countries that do not have an extradition treaty with the US. An overwhelming majority of first and second world countries tend to stand out of the way of US Federal forces when the Feds want to get someone.
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A lot of the world does not have an extradition treaty with the US:
United_States_extradition_treaties_countries.PNG


All he would have to do is get on a plane and go to Morocco, Mozambique, the Balkans, Indonesia, etc. They also have nice beaches. It is amazingly easy to get to a country without an extradition treaty.
 
CanadaJohn said:
We can agree on that. Maybe 30 days in detention followed by more stringent parole conditions - maybe residence in a halfway house, away from his parents, as an example, where he gets some counselling and job training, etc. - would be a good compromise, in my view. Trying to impose what many consider a more appropriate sentence for his underlying crime would be very wrong, in my view.
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In the US justice system the idea of probation is that the convicted individual will get the chance to prove they understand the severity of their crime by following strict behavioral guidelines for a certain period of time. This chance is offered with the understanding that should the convict fail to adhere to the terms set down for him his probation may be revoked and he becomes subject to the full measure of the punishment normally tendered for the crime he committed. In this case the kid not only broke the terms of his probation by drinking but then chose to evade the consequences of that decision by fleeing to Mexico.

As far as I'm concerned he should get hooked up for not only the 10 years of his original probation but have double the initial sentence imposed for running. Then again, I'm a firm believer in the "fool me once" rule.
 
Carjosse said:
A lot of the world does not have an extradition treaty with the US:


All he would have to do is get on a plane and go to Morocco, Mozambique, the Balkans, Indonesia, etc. They also have nice beaches. It is amazingly easy to get to a country without an extradition treaty.
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I hear Syria is nice this time of year. That should straighten the little heathen out.
 
Moderate Right said:
He should be immediately incarcerated for those 10 years and his mother should be given the max punishment. Where's the father? I haven't heard about him?
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Couch's parents are divorced, and there appears to be great animosity between them even now. Here is an article that provides a little insight into the codependent relationship Ethan, now 18, has with his mother: The Worst Parents Ever - D Magazine

He's going to go to jail now, and this may be the greatest thing that ever happens to him. Won't be pretty, but maybe this will turn his life around. And it will distance him from his toxic mother.

As a parent myself, I just don't understand Tonya Couch's immaturity and stupidity.
 
CanadaJohn said:
I may be in the minority here, coming from the right, but I don't see the societal benefit to coming down hard on this young man who was 16 when he committed his offense and arguably has 70 years of time to contribute to society in a meaningful way.

I'm addition, I'm not big on invalidating trial outcomes that we don't agree with by imposing, after the fact, more severe punishment for other lesser crimes or misdemeanors that the convicted may commit.

Granted, not many or at least not the majority believe the defense he waged in his trial should have been successful, but if it has any credibility the influence of his parents - in this case the mother - may still be overwhelming in the young man's ability to do the right thing.

We don't know the details related to the young man bugging out on his parole responsibilities. Until we do, I'm not at all inclined to suggest he should be strung up and "properly" sentenced for his previous crime. His parole conditions may need to be strengthened and likely will and perhaps he'll have to serve minimal detention time - but society gains nothing by locking away an 18 year old for years under these circumstances. The mother, however, is an entirely different story and if she coerced her son into fleeing under conditions he didn't support but could not deny, she should be dealt with harshly. And where's the dad in all this - I haven't heard.

And I agree with some above who've indicated that this case has received far too much media attention - that attention and backlash may have been contributing factors to their leaving the country.
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His original offense was plowing into a group of pedestrians, killing four of them, while driving drunk. The fact that his only punishment was a ritzy rehab center and probation was a travesty of justice. He can still be of use to society from behind bars.
 
Re: 'Affluenza' teen Ethan Couch detained in Mexico

Chomsky said:
(CNN) "Mexican authorities have detained so-called "affluenza" teen Ethan Couch and his mother near the popular Mexican Pacific beach resort town of Puerto Vallarta, officials briefed on the matter told CNN.

Couch, 18, went missing earlier this month, two years after he made national news when he was sentenced to probation for a drunken driving crash that killed four people.

Couch is expected to be turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service, who have spent weeks searching for him. A spokesman for the service declined to comment."

Source: CNN - 'Affluenza' teen Ethan Couch detained in Mexico

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Considering his family's money and mobility, along with his head start and the possible severe consequences if apprehended, I'm really surprised he was caught so quickly.

It's been suggested their running was reactionary to the released video, so I suspect they didn't have a well thought out or well laid-out plan.

I'll also wager to say he's not the only one in the family now in trouble!
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If you run it is extremely stupid to go to a tourist area where they expect you to go.

The US knew they were in Mexico so they had a few places to look.

I am sure it wasn't hard.
 
Re: 'Affluenza' teen Ethan Couch detained in Mexico

jamesrage said:
They will probably buy the Mexican judge like they most likely did in Ethan Couch's drunk driving case.Its a shame the lawyer and quack can't face a lie detector test to see if they actually believe the affluenza nonsense.
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Corruption only happens in the dark.

The judge would have no reason to go easy on these two.

He is going to want to get rid of them as soon as possible.
 
Re: 'Affluenza' teen Ethan Couch detained in Mexico

PoS said:
The most he can be charged with right now is violating his parole- I think both he and the press overreacted in this affair. I wonder if his mom will go to jail since she aided and abetted him- now that would be a big issue.
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The violation of his parole is worth 10 years in prison, so I am sure it looked like a big deal to him.
 
Carjosse said:
A lot of the world does not have an extradition treaty with the US:
United_States_extradition_treaties_countries.PNG


All he would have to do is get on a plane and go to Morocco, Mozambique, the Balkans, Indonesia, etc. They also have nice beaches. It is amazingly easy to get to a country without an extradition treaty.
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Nearly everyone of them being a Hell Hole to most Americans.
 
Re: 'Affluenza' teen Ethan Couch detained in Mexico

Mason66 said:
The violation of his parole is worth 10 years in prison, so I am sure it looked like a big deal to him.
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Actions have consequences, it just takes longer for some to get around to paying their due. Time for the boy to pay up and time for Mom to learn a life lesson herself.
 
CanadaJohn said:
I may be in the minority here, coming from the right, but I don't see the societal benefit to coming down hard on this young man who was 16 when he committed his offense and arguably has 70 years of time to contribute to society in a meaningful way.

I'm addition, I'm not big on invalidating trial outcomes that we don't agree with by imposing, after the fact, more severe punishment for other lesser crimes or misdemeanors that the convicted may commit.

Granted, not many or at least not the majority believe the defense he waged in his trial should have been successful, but if it has any credibility the influence of his parents - in this case the mother - may still be overwhelming in the young man's ability to do the right thing.

We don't know the details related to the young man bugging out on his parole responsibilities. Until we do, I'm not at all inclined to suggest he should be strung up and "properly" sentenced for his previous crime. His parole conditions may need to be strengthened and likely will and perhaps he'll have to serve minimal detention time - but society gains nothing by locking away an 18 year old for years under these circumstances. The mother, however, is an entirely different story and if she coerced her son into fleeing under conditions he didn't support but could not deny, she should be dealt with harshly. And where's the dad in all this - I haven't heard.

And I agree with some above who've indicated that this case has received far too much media attention - that attention and backlash may have been contributing factors to their leaving the country.
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When on parole, you have to do what they say. There is no gray area.

He violated his parole and then ran.

he will be jailed and probably sentenced to his original sentence.

He has shown himself to be a flight risk, so he will not be free for quite a long time.
 
Re: 'Affluenza' teen Ethan Couch detained in Mexico

Casper said:
Actions have consequences, it just takes longer for some to get around to paying their due. Time for the boy to pay up and time for Mom to learn a life lesson herself.
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I am sure they will.

When you give people enough rope, they will eventually hang themselves.

Money doesn't mean as much outside the US as people seem to think it does.
 
Re: 'Affluenza' teen Ethan Couch detained in Mexico

Casper said:
Actions have consequences, it just takes longer for some to get around to paying their due. Time for the boy to pay up and time for Mom to learn a life lesson herself.
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I want the proverbial book thrown at the mother, who has obviously had an undue and damaging effect on her child.
 
CanadaJohn said:
I may be in the minority here, coming from the right, but I don't see the societal benefit to coming down hard on this young man who was 16 when he committed his offense and arguably has 70 years of time to contribute to society in a meaningful way.

I'm addition, I'm not big on invalidating trial outcomes that we don't agree with by imposing, after the fact, more severe punishment for other lesser crimes or misdemeanors that the convicted may commit.

Granted, not many or at least not the majority believe the defense he waged in his trial should have been successful, but if it has any credibility the influence of his parents - in this case the mother - may still be overwhelming in the young man's ability to do the right thing.

We don't know the details related to the young man bugging out on his parole responsibilities. Until we do, I'm not at all inclined to suggest he should be strung up and "properly" sentenced for his previous crime. His parole conditions may need to be strengthened and likely will and perhaps he'll have to serve minimal detention time - but society gains nothing by locking away an 18 year old for years under these circumstances. The mother, however, is an entirely different story and if she coerced her son into fleeing under conditions he didn't support but could not deny, she should be dealt with harshly. And where's the dad in all this - I haven't heard.

And I agree with some above who've indicated that this case has received far too much media attention - that attention and backlash may have been contributing factors to their leaving the country.
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Last time I was in court (witness) I don't remember the judge being concerned with the "societal benefit". It seems like most judges ponder on the effect the punishment will have on the defendant. When I was young my dad told me that if I ever landed in jail I would be on my own. Seems like this kid is used to sliding by and the enabling by his mother. He needs a strong lesson now. The shame of it is that his mother is a bad example. The dad's absence might be indicative of the actions of the mom and son. Who wants to stick around with a morally bankrupt woman and child? That just turns into a constant battle.
 
CanadaJohn said:
Fair enough - but I don't agree. Imagine the prisons you'd need to build to hold 18yr olds drinking? No wonder America has the largest per capita prison population in the civilized world.
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Actually we have more prisoners than China India and Europe combined.
 
CanadaJohn said:
Fair enough - but I don't agree. Imagine the prisons you'd need to build to hold 18yr olds drinking? No wonder America has the largest per capita prison population in the civilized world.
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Actually we have more prisoners than China India Iran Brazil and (most) of Europe combined.

We're conservative like that.
 
nota bene said:
Couch's parents are divorced, and there appears to be great animosity between them even now. Here is an article that provides a little insight into the codependent relationship Ethan, now 18, has with his mother: The Worst Parents Ever - D Magazine

He's going to go to jail now, and this may be the greatest thing that ever happens to him. Won't be pretty, but maybe this will turn his life around. And it will distance him from his toxic mother.

As a parent myself, I just don't understand Tonya Couch's immaturity and stupidity.
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I can, I have an ex that is banned form WalMart for life. The last time she got caught shoplifting she had two of our grand daughters with her. She was using them for cover. The oldest was 13. This woman reminds me a lot of her.
 
Casper said:
Momma needs to do some serious time herself. Could not happen to a nicer family.
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Meh, they're rich, I'm sure they can buy their way out of trouble.
 
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