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For myself, I think drunk drivers should be treated in the same fashion as someone who gets charged with brandishing or causing harm with a gun.


From CNN
"Ethan Couch got 10 years probation, no jail time, for a fatal drunken driving crash
Video allegedly showed him at a party; his probation officer hasn't been able to find him
The father of a boy injured by Couch says there has been "no accountability"
(CNN)Disgusted, yes. Shocked, no.

That's what Kevin McConnell feels after learning that Ethan Couch -- the teenager who killed four people and injured several others, including McConnell's then 12-year-old son Lucas, while driving drunk on a Texas road -- is on the lam. In the McConnells' view, Couch was never held accountable. Not meeting with his probation officer and fleeing to points unknown, McConnell says, goes along with that.

"No surprises at all; there was a pattern," Kevin McConnell said Friday. "Nothing is going to make an impact on this guy unless there's something severe or certain."

That's why, in his victim impact statement in court in 2013, Lucas McConnell told Couch, "While I think we should do our best at forgiving, I believe if this situation is not handled with severity, you won't take it seriously."

Couch's lawyers had argued that the teen's parents deserved much of the blame. They even called a psychologist who testified that Couch, who was 16 at the time, suffered from "affluenza" -- meaning he was a rich kid whose parents didn't set limits for him.

Tarrant County Juvenile Court Judge Jean Boyd decided against a long prison term, instead giving him 10 years probation and mandating that he get treatment. And instantly, there was outrage: How could someone kill and then avoid jail partly because he was spoiled? Would others who weren't as wealthy have gotten the same treatment? And what confidence should anyone have that Couch or, for that matter, the parents who'd enabled him, will change?

While he thinks Couch's fleeing -- with his mother, authorities believe -- jives with his character, Kevin McConnell still has a hard time understanding why a stiffer punishment wasn't doled out.

"The scales (of justice) represent balance: There should be no entitling one way or the other, based on who you are or where you're from," McConnell told CNN's "New Day.

"It's hard for me to reconcile with my son or my other two sons... There's no accountability."

Lawyer: Judge 'gave someone a chance'
On the night of June 15, 2013, Couch and some friends stole beer from a Walmart. They started drinking and then hit the road, with Couch behind the wheel.

That same evening, Hollie Boyles and her daughter Shelby left their home to help Breanna Mitchell, whose SUV had broken down by the side of a road. Brian Jennings, a youth pastor, was driving past and also stopped to help.

Victim: 'Affluenza' boy never apologized

Victim: 'Affluenza' boy never apologized 02:40
Couch plowed into them, killing them all. Several others suffered severe injuries, including two passengers thrown from the bed of Couch's truck.

Three hours after the crash, tests showed that he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.24, three times the legal limit.

The question, then, wasn't what Couch had done. It was what should be done with him next.

The "affluenza" testimony made national headlines, as did the Tarrant County judge's ruling to give Couch probation rather than the 20 years behind bars requested by prosecutors. The teen was also ordered into long-term mental health treatment, away from his parents' influence.

"It's clear that she gave someone a chance that didn't deserve it," Todd Clement, a lawyer who represents Boyles and McConnell, said of the now retired judge. "And (that is) exactly what Lucas McConnell predicted."

Lawyer blasts media for 'affluenza' focus

Video reportedly shows teen at party
Move forward two years. Couch, now 18, is back living with his mother. And a video turns up on social media showing Couch at a party playing beer pong, as reported by CNN affiliate KTVT, despite explicit instructions he stay away from alcohol.

When asked to confirm Couch's attendance at the event, his attorneys Scott Brown and William Reagan Wynn told CNN's sister network HLN they knew authorities were investigating whether their client violated his probation conditions.

Sheriff to Ethan Couch: We are going to find you

Sheriff to Ethan Couch: We are going to find you 02:09
"It would not be prudent for us to make any further statement on Ethan's behalf until the investigations are concluded and it is determined what, if any, action will be taken against him," the lawyers added.

At the time of his conviction, prosecutors said Couch could be incarcerated up to 10 years for violating his probation terms.

Joey Jackson, a criminal defense attorney and CNN legal analyst, thinks Couch's lawyers might have had some success explaining the party video. Still, the fact the teen is now missing undermines any such argument and underscores others' point that he's never taken responsibility or paid the price.

"You're given that opportunity, now take that opportunity as a second chance of a lease on your life because you took others'," Jackson said. "... It doesn't help to be on the lam, at all."

Sheriff worries teen, mother may have fled U.S.
In order to be punished, of course, Couch first must be found.

A warrant was issued for Couch after his probation officer couldn't reach him this week. Since then, the FBI and U.S. Marshals have joined local authorities to hunt him down. A $5,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of Couch.

In an interview Thursday with CNN's "AC360," Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson worried that the teen and his mother could have fled the United States.

"They have the money. They have the ability to disappear," he said. "And I'm fearing that they have gone a long way and may even be out of the country."

Jackson believes the family's considerable financial resources, and the prospect that an escape had been planned out, suggests "it may be a long time" before Couch is apprehended. Still, he thinks it will happen, as does fellow criminal defense lawyer and CNN analyst Danny Cevallos.

"This is not somebody who is going to be able to just slip into the corn, like 'Field of Dreams,'" Cevallos said. "He is somebody who is going to leave a (digital) trail. He's got friends. He's not a survivalist. He should be found eventually."

In the meantime, Couch's disappearance means more heartache for the families of those he killed and fuels their belief, and that of others, that he should have gotten a stiffer sentence.

"'Affluenza' aside, Ethan Couch appears to show blatant disregard for the law, and he must be held accountable," said Sheehey-Church, the head of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

"The families impacted will never have their loved ones back; Ethan Couch must have consequences for his actions."



CNN's Ashley Fantz, Ben Brumfield, Catherine E. Shoichet, Ray Sanchez, John Berman, Jason Morris and Dana Ford contributed to this report.

Solution is simple. Fresh tundra air and hard labour have wonderful effects on people like this. Time the US puts Alyaska to good use.

"We couldn't have predicted this." -said no one ever.

Clearly this is the work of his affluenza. How is he supposed to know that running away from punishment is bad?

Even my spell check doesn't believe affluenza is a real thing.....

I think Affluenza is a real thing. It's just that we used to call it something else; being a snotty, self-entitled, spoiled rich kid. And well, when has that ever been an excuse for anything?

 LordofHats wrote:
I think Affluenza is a real thing. It's just that we used to call it something else; being a snotty, self-entitled, spoiled rich kid. And well, when has that ever been an excuse for anything?

I'm with you on that thought, but unfortunately, in that judges court it was.

Hope they catch up with him soon.

I shook my head when I saw the original case - and the verdict.

He should always have been gaoled. Being spoilt and rich isn't not a defence for killing people when drink driving.

Considering he killed several people and seriously injured others, the punishment meted out seems very lax.

 LordofHats wrote:
I think Affluenza is a real thing. It's just that we used to call it something else; being a snotty, self-entitled, spoiled rich kid. And well, when has that ever been an excuse for anything?

You're underselling it. I'd call it a synonym for "failed human being." Alas, having him put down and telling the parents not to fail so hard next time is not considered an appropriate response when someone so thoroughly demonstrates their contempt for innocent people as he did.

This case reminds me of the opening of the Godfather novel where the judge lets the rapist of an undertakers daughter off because they came from good families.
It's too bad such cases don't stay on the pages of fiction.

Well at least he will be getting the book thrown at him now.

I have never understood why people who cause death by dangerous/drunken driving aren't punished more heavily.

There was an incident at home where someone killed 3 out of 4 members from a family of tourists by mounting the pavement while drunk yet he only received a 10 year prison term, although he was out in 7.

The worst accident involving a drunk I know of is one that made a blip in the news of the time and quickly vanished. The man responsible got ten years for killing 27 people:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrollton,_Kentucky_bus_collision


Some statistics on alcohol related traffic deaths:

http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

I never understood how you could have a violent offense like this and serve so little time but a nonviolent offense like selling marijuana can get you life.

It makes absolutely no sense.

Who would have thought a teen afflicted with Affluenza would violate parole and skip on his scheduled probation?

 Dreadwinter wrote:
I never understood how you could have a violent offense like this and serve so little time but a nonviolent offense like selling marijuana can get you life.

It makes absolutely no sense.

Maybe it's because of all the killing (cartels and such to the numbers of tens of thousands a year in Mexico alone) that might go on to get the marijuana to the buyers. On the other hand, it could be just a relic of the failed war on drugs.

Relapse wrote:

Maybe it's because of all the killing (cartels and such to the numbers of tens of thousands a year in Mexico alone) that might go on to get the marijuana to the buyers. On the other hand, it could be just a relic of the failed war on drugs.

Mostly the latter, because we're totally fine with all the death and exploitation the coffee and cacao industries create.

 Silent Puffin? wrote:
Well at least he will be getting the book thrown at him now.

The judge who sentenced him to probation should be getting the book thrown at him, too.

*removed in an attempt to "play nice"*

I hope this kid is found and is given the proper treatment a multiple homicide perpatrator deserves for being such a Please don't bypass the language filters like this.
Reds8n

 dogma wrote:

Relapse wrote:

Maybe it's because of all the killing (cartels and such to the numbers of tens of thousands a year in Mexico alone) that might go on to get the marijuana to the buyers. On the other hand, it could be just a relic of the failed war on drugs.

Mostly the latter, because we're totally fine with all the death and exploitation the coffee and cacao industries create.

True.

Throw the book at them, jail time, no luxury.

You kill people, there is consequences.... No exceptions

Relapse wrote:

 Dreadwinter wrote:
I never understood how you could have a violent offense like this and serve so little time but a nonviolent offense like selling marijuana can get you life.

It makes absolutely no sense.

Maybe it's because of all the killing (cartels and such to the numbers of tens of thousands a year in Mexico alone) that might go on to get the marijuana to the buyers. On the other hand, it could be just a relic of the failed war on drugs.

It was entirely the failed War on Drugs that built the cartels. If it was legal and everybody could grow it, why would we want to import it?

 jhe90 wrote:
Throw the book at them, jail time, no luxury.

You kill people, there is consequences.... No exceptions

He and his worthless mother should each serve a sentence based on the lost life expectancy of his victims. I don't care if it adds up to something stupid like 150-170+ years. He obviously doesn't give a flying rodent gak about killing four innocent people, and his mother is now helping a felon flee criminal prosecution.

And then liquidate his parent's entire holdings and pay it out as restitution to the real victims and the families affected for life by this little piece of gak's self-entitled rank stupidity.

Experiment 626 wrote:

 jhe90 wrote:
Throw the book at them, jail time, no luxury.

You kill people, there is consequences.... No exceptions

He and his worthless mother should each serve a sentence based on the lost life expectancy of his victims. I don't care if it adds up to something stupid like 150-170+ years. He obviously doesn't give a flying rodent gak about killing four innocent people, and his mother is now helping a felon flee criminal prosecution.

And then liquidate his parent's entire holdings and pay it out as restitution to the real victims and the families affected for life by this little piece of gak's self-entitled rank stupidity.

She is aiding and abetting s fugitive wanted basically for murder, that's worth jail time.

He learned zilch, full jail, full sentence for the crime. Hard labour in Alaska not hurt....
Why did they not have a watch on her accounts, passport and such. Nothing nsa, just a alarm if x happens....

I hate to break up all the "tough on crime" boasting, but there's actually a legitimate case buried in there somewhere. It's a well-established precedent that we treat children and adults differently in court because a child does not have the mental capacity to be fully responsible for their actions. If a 5 year old shoots someone and kills them we don't execute them for murder, we focus on punishing the parents for giving them access to a gun. So perhaps there's a valid argument in saying "your parents have failed so spectacularly in teaching you anything that we have to treat you as a small child". And the real injustice is less that the 16 year old with the maturity of a 5 year old was given a light punishment and more that the parents were not held accountable for raising him that poorly.

Parents aren't the only determining factor in the behaviour of their off-spring, though.

There is a vast amount of social information that tells any 16-year-old who isn't actually insane or severely sub-normal, that getting drunk and driving is wrong.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
Parents aren't the only determining factor in the behaviour of their off-spring, though.

There is a vast amount of social information that tells any 16-year-old who isn't actually insane or severely sub-normal, that getting drunk and driving is wrong.

There are also any number of cases where parents did the best they could and the child still goes off the tracks. This is definitely not one of them. That being said, as you point out, the child was 16 and had access to enough information that he knew what could happen. The mother compounded the situation by enabling her child to continue bad behavior.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
Parents aren't the only determining factor in the behaviour of their off-spring, though.

There is a vast amount of social information that tells any 16-year-old who isn't actually insane or severely sub-normal, that getting drunk and driving is wrong.

They knew exactly what they did was wrong. Rich or not, you do not drink and drive. Killing people, you have to answer for that.

 Peregrine wrote:
I hate to break up all the "tough on crime" boasting, but there's actually a legitimate case buried in there somewhere. It's a well-established precedent that we treat children and adults differently in court because a child does not have the mental capacity to be fully responsible for their actions. If a 5 year old shoots someone and kills them we don't execute them for murder, we focus on punishing the parents for giving them access to a gun. So perhaps there's a valid argument in saying "your parents have failed so spectacularly in teaching you anything that we have to treat you as a small child". And the real injustice is less that the 16 year old with the maturity of a 5 year old was given a light punishment and more that the parents were not held accountable for raising him that poorly.

He was 16 and had a drivers license. He knew full well that drinking and driving is bad because that is hammered in to young drivers. On top of that, the whole thing started off with him stealing the beer he drank.

I have a hard time believing that at some point during all of this he didn't think "I could hurt somebody and really get in trouble for this"

 Dreadwinter wrote:
... ... ...

I have a hard time believing that at some point during all of this he didn't think "I could hurt somebody and really get in trouble for this"

If he didn't, it would simply be the basis of his crime. I mean, it wouldn't let him off if actually he hadn't thought that.