Rich kid gets probation after.....

[webeagle12]

***** WARNING this will probably will **** you right off....*****

 

......killing 4 in DUI crash, because he was rich.

 

A judge has let off a 16-year-old boy who killed four people while driving drunk after the teen's lawyers claimed his rich parents spoiled him and never taught him about consequences.

Ethan Couch of Keller, Texas, had faced 20 years behind bars but walked away with 10 years of probation Tuesday, something that angered his victims' families.

'Money always seems to keep (Couch) out of trouble,' Eric Boyles, whose wife and daughter were killed in the June 15 crash, told the Star Telegram after sentencing. 'Ultimately today, I felt that money did prevail. If (he) had been any other youth, I feel like the circumstances would have been different.'

 

Couch's blood alcohol reading was .24 and he also had a Valium in his system after he and a group of friends stole alcohol from Walmart, drank it and later piled into his pick-up truck. Driving 70 miles in a 40 miles per hour zone, he struck and killed four pedestrians as well as injuring two of his own passengers who remain paralyzed.

Youth pastor Brian Jennings; mother and daughter Hollie and Shelby Boyles; and 24-year-old Breanna Mitchell all died in the accident.

 

A psychologist called by the defense, Dr. Gary Miller, blamed the teen's behavior on his parents, claiming they gave him whatever he wanted including 'freedoms no young person should have.' 

Miller called Couch a product of 'affluenza,' where his family felt their wealth bought privilege and there was no rational link between behavior and consequences. He added that the boy had an 'intellectual age' of 18 but an 'emotional age' of 12.

'The teen never learned to say that you?re sorry if you hurt someone,' Miller said, according to the Star Telegram. 'If you hurt someone, you sent him money.'

State District Judge Jean Boyd appeared to agree with the defense.

 

She told the teen that he is responsible for what happened, but she said she didn't believe he would receive the therapy he needed in jail. If he violates the terms of his probation, he could be sent to prison for 10 years.

Defense attorneys asked that he be sent to a private rehabilitation home near Newport Beach, California, which costs an enormous $450,000 a year. His father said he'd foot the bill.

Prosecutors said the juvenile justice system also offered counseling.

 

Breanna's mother, Marla Mitchell, said she was 'mad' about the sentence and embraced the families of the other victims outside of the courtroom.

'He'll be feeling the hand of God, definitely,' she told WFAA.com. 'He may think he got away with something, but he hasn't gotten away with anything.'

Alex Lumas, whose brother was paralyzed in the accident, was also in disbelief at the probation.

'To me, it's not right,' he said. 

However, the widow of one of the victims looked at the defendant in the courtroom and said, 'Ethan, we forgive you,' which caused Couch to swallowed hard and tear up a bit.

 

Couch's family did not comment on the sentence and the teen wasn't allowed to go home with his parents. He will remain at a detention center until Boyd decided whether he can go to the plush California facility.

The teen admitted he was the driver of the pickup truck that crashed and started a chain reaction of car crashes and said he and seven friends had been drinking for hours before the June 15 wreck. 

Some of them were even caught on surveillance video stealing two cases of beer from a nearby Walmart in the hours prior to the horrific smash. 

Couch was charged with four counts of intoxication manslaughter as well as two counts of intoxication assault, according to the Tarrant County district attorney's office.

In September, he appeared with his lawyers for a detention hearing and was released to his parents on the condition that he wear an ankle monitor that allowed officials to keep track of him.

At around 11:45 p.m on June 15, Couch and a group his friends who were all drunk, got into a red Ford F350 pick-up and were barreling down Burleson-Retta Road in southern Tarrant County when the truck left the road.

 

As it careered out of control, it clipped a broken down SUV, throwing the owner and four good Samaritans, who were trying to help, 60 yards in the air. They were all killed on impact.

It was revealed soon after that Couch's blood-alcohol level was 0.24 - three times the adult limit, though minors aren't allowed any alcohol in their system - and that his truck was traveling up to 70 mph when it started the chain reaction of crashes.

The impact flung the four people 50 to 60 yards, authorities reported.

 

Jennings, a Burleson youth minister, had stopped to help Mitchell, whose vehicle had a flat tire, and Boyles and her daughter had come out of their nearby house to assist. The SUV and all four victims were standing off the roadway.

The red pickup then hit Mr Jennings' parked Silverado pickup with two boys inside.

Couch's red pickup flew up into the air, flipped and crashed into a tree.

 

None of the teens in the red truck were wearing seat belts, investigators said.

They had earlier stolen a couple of cases of beer from a Walmart in Burleson about an hour before the crash and prior to that, they had tried unsuccessfully to buy alcohol at a convenience store.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2521743/Ethan-Couch-crash-Drink-driving-teen-killed-spared-jail-hes-rich.html#ixzz2nDznpOSb 
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[The Evil Overlord]

You were correct, placing a warning on that.
Justice for the masses, unless you're rich enough to use that excuse. :angry:
 
 
 

A judge has let off a 16-year-old boy who killed four people while driving drunk after the teen's lawyers claimed his rich parents spoiled him and never taught him about consequences.

Ethan Couch of Keller, Texas, had faced 20 years behind bars but walked away with 10 years of probation Tuesday, something that angered his victims' families.

Theft, underage drinking, driving whilst 3 times over the legal limit..... There's a missed opportunity to teach him if I ever saw one!

[Brendeth]

 

You were correct, placing a warning on that.

Justice for the masses, unless you're rich enough to use that excuse. :angry:

 

 

 

Ethan Couch of Keller, Texas, had faced 20 years behind bars but walked away with 10 years of probation Tuesday, something that angered his victims' families.

There's a missed opportunity to teach him if I ever saw one!

 

Let's teach him about consequences by not showing the full force of the consequences......... yep.... .makes sense.

Justice prevails! /s

[Tonicgoofy]

I think he got off too light, but I don't think jail time should have been in the cards. He is only 16 years old, every body makes mistakes. some bigger than others, but still.

 

I think a suspended license + probation + community service should be a big enough punishment.

[The Evil Overlord]

Let's teach him about consequences by not showing the full force of the consequences......... yep.... .makes sense.

Justice prevails! /s

I get it, and you do have a point in your post, but if this was my son, from my working class family, and add the fact that of the offences, would he have gotten the exact same sentence?

(But I do concede, it is difficult ground to walk on, the 'justice road')

 

edit

 

sorry, I got a little confused

[MorganX]

I get it, and you do have a point in your post, but if this was my son, from my working class family, and add the fact that of the offences, would he have gotten the exact same sentence?

(But I do concede, it is difficult ground to walk on, the 'justice road')

 

Possibly. But definitely not because of that ridiculous defense. I've known a couple people, working class and one lower who killed someone. It was a first offense and they got probation. One drove drunk again, cause a lot of damage, and thus served out the 5 year sentence. (got early release)

 

If you don't have a history, a lot of people get probation, suspended license, etc.

[Blackhearted]

I think he got off too light, but I don't think jail time should have been in the cards. He is only 16 years old, every body makes mistakes. some bigger than others, but still.

 

I think a suspended license + probation + community service should be a big enough punishment.

 

So you think just cause he's technically still a kid that he should be allowed to get away with killing 4 people?

[Lizardslap]

hes gonna end up in jail idk how he got probation as it was he is a pill popper and goes thieving with his friends

Edited December 12, 2013 by Lizardslap

[MDboyz]

If someone did that to my family and walked away, I would take justice on my own hand.

[DocM]

[Shiranui]

 

Are you suggesting we set Michael Ironside on him?

[+virtorio MVC]

Give the lawyer a medal for getting him off.

Then put that lawyer, along that rich-kid motherf**ker, into a big box and fire it directly into the Sun.

[trag3dy]

I think he got off too light, but I don't think jail time should have been in the cards. He is only 16 years old, every body makes mistakes. some bigger than others, but still.

 

I think a suspended license + probation + community service should be a big enough punishment.

 

For murdering 4 people and paralyzing 2 others for life? Not to mention theft and the DUI? Life in prison should have been considered as a "short" sentence for that waste of life.

[leesmithg]

My parents never said to me that getting drunk and driving at a crowd and killing people is wrong.

 

They never said it was right either.

 

It was and has never been discussed.

 

I am am poor, so if I do it, you can bet your arse to a barn dance I will do 25 years minimum inside.

 

This is yet another thing that is wrong with the world.

 

The people that lost their loved-ones should appeal the decision by the judge, that was probably bought and get it over-turned.

[Nick H. Supervisor]

A judge has let off a 16-year-old boy who killed four people while driving drunk after the teen's lawyers claimed his rich parents spoiled him and never taught him about consequences.

Hang on. Their defence on the issue was that he was never taught about consequences, and so as a result he isn't going to deal with the consequences of his actions like anyone else would?

[DocM]

While the prosecution can appeal a sentence it's a long shot. The families would do better filing wrongful death civil lawsuits and (financially) skin the parents (and the kids trust account) alive there.

[The Evil Overlord]

While the prosecution can appeal a sentence it's a long shot. The families would do better filing wrongful death civil lawsuits and (financially) skin the parents (and the kids trust account) alive there.

Actually, that's not a bad idea..

[+John Teacake MVC]

So if he hasn't been taught the consequences of his actions is that not what the Judicial system is there to do? Let him to hard time!!

[MorganX]

While the prosecution can appeal a sentence it's a long shot. The families would do better filing wrongful death civil lawsuits and (financially) skin the parents (and the kids trust account) alive there.

 

Good point. It's an autowin Civil Suit. Irony is, that defense insures the parents can be held liable as well.

[Top Qat]

WTF? This is madness. Ignorance is not a defense!

[Tha Bloo Monkee]

Everyone knows the law doesn't apply the same to you if you have lots of money.

 

This is what I've learned today:
$$ > law

 

I can't even begin to fathom how angry the surviving family members must feel...

[spacer]

WTF? This is madness. Ignorance is not a defense!

That is my sentiment as well. If you can't use the, "Well I didn't know that was illegal" defense for other crimes, you shouldn't be able to use it now; especially since he killed 4 people. Accident or not, drunk driving is inexcusable and this kid should have gotten a harsher punishment. It's pretty disgusting that his parent's money is the reason he's walking free.

 

In all honestly if I were the guy who lost his wife and daughter, there is nothing on this planet that would keep me from getting to that kid.

[y2k2r2d2]

Fair enough...he was 16 and drunk. Rich did came because they could afford some $450000 a year. I blame the flat tyres though. 40mph limit is already fast enough  where there are homes

[fusi0n]

hes gonna end up in jail idk how he got probation as it was he is a pill popper and goes thieving with his friends

He could have been prescribed that by a Doctor..

 

Benzos mixed with Alcohol will REALLY **** you up.. You shouldn't be anywhere near a car if you mix those two.. Also, can be very dangerous if you take or drink to much because it can shutdown your CNS and keep you from breathing..

[fusi0n]

The kid most likely didn't get off JUST because his parents are rich.. Super Wealthy people, have connections and have dirt on other high rank officials in the city usually.. Probably pulled some strings, paid some people off, or blackmail.