Texas teen Ethan Couch gets 10 years' probation for driving drunk, killing 4

[Crabtownboy]

If being rich is a successful defense why isn't being poor just as valid a defense?

To the defense, the youth is himself a victim -- of "affuenza," according to one psychologist -- the product of wealthy, privileged parents who never set limits for the boy.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/11/us/texas-teen-dwi-wreck/

 

[Gina B]

The defense? Being poor IS a defense and is used over and over and over and over...

Everyone has an excuse and like magic, it always puts the blame on someone that isn't the person who did something wrong. Pretty cool! If we played it out to its logical conclusion, our prisons would be full of the elderly. Instead, the excuse is bought and courts stop short of that, instead slapping wrists of criminals and sending them to go talk out their childhood woes with counselors until we learn our lesson and they do it again. Hopefully that won't be the case with this particular kid...hate that he killed and disabled people, but also...wow, he did NOT set out to do this! Stealing beer to drink vs murder is a vastly different thing. I don't know his state of mind, but I'd imagine it isn't good and that throwing him in prison wouldn't resolve much for anyone.

I can't imagine being on either side of this.

But still...as for the defense? That's not a defense. The lawyer has to try, and blaming the parents is something that has been shown to work in our society whenever a kid does something wrong. Even adults try using that one, with varying degrees of success.

 

[exscentric]

Uuuuuuuh, news flash, life isn't fair. Have a friend doing 20 plus years in one state for statutory rape while a teacher here a few months ago got 30 days for the same crime. Actually got 31, he had served one and the judge commuted the 30 so he actually got one day.

Gina is spot on, "NOT MY FAULT." Saw an interview with a killer and when asked why he killed the man he said, I did not kill him -- I fired my gun and he stupidly stepped in front of my gun.

Get right down to it it is probably more the judges fault for letting it all happen. Now the politics of some of these judges.........

 

[convicted1]

I also found this to be saddening:

Two people riding in the bed of the teen's pickup were tossed in the crash and severely injured.

One is no longer able to move or talk because of a brain injury, while the other suffered internal injuries and broken bones.

Yes, this 16 y/o got off with a slap on the wrist, and the judicial system spit right in the face of justice. I bet some $$$ exchanged hands, too......

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

This is the most bogus part of the story:

Fox News: Families outraged over teen's probation-only sentence in fatal DWI crash​

A psychologist called as an expert defense witness said the boy suffered from "affluenza." Affluenza is defined as a psychological malaise that affects young people who may come from families with money. These individuals may have the feeling of guilt, lack of motivation or a sense of isolation. The teen also grew up in a house where parents were preoccupied with arguments with each other that led to a divorce.

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo! Cry me a river!

The kid has money, money led him to have no conscience, so he gets off for that?

 

[Crabtownboy]

This is the most bogus part of the story:

Fox News: Families outraged over teen's probation-only sentence in fatal DWI crash​

Oh, boo-hoo-hoo! Cry me a river!

The kid has money, money led him to have no conscience, so he gets off for that?

Especially since ...

The American Psychiatric Association says it does not recognize the diagnosis of 'affluenza,' that a psychologist said a wealthy North Texas teenager suffered from when he killed four pedestrians while driving drunk.

The association says Thursday there is no such diagnosis in its most recent manual published in May.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/12/affluenza-dwi-dui-texas/3999487/

If the kid had been poor I am sure he would have served jail time. However, here is a kid in Texas, White and rich ... no jail time.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

If the kid had been poor I am sure he would have served jail time. However, here is a kid in Texas, White and rich ... no jail time.

:thumbsup: I knew we'd one day find something to agree on! :laugh:

 

[preachinjesus]

The case referenced in the OP is a dramatic example of the inequities in our justice system.