# Assuming "affluenza" teen & mom have fled the US - What penalty does Mom get? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854 "2015-12-19T16:37:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/41 "2016-01-01T19:47:30Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > I don’t see why they fled in the first place if he was only facing a few month’s in jail. Likewise, why is he fighting the extradition back to the US? Surely he couldn’t expect to win and it will simply add to the total time he’s in detention as his stay courtesy of the Mexican government isn’t going to reduce any sentence in the US. Try watching _COPS_. I have no idea how many high speed chases(and sometimes wrecked cars) resulted due to having a suspended license. One idiot wouldn’t stop because while he had a valid license, he didn’t have it on him. ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/42 "2016-01-01T20:01:30Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Regardless, isn’t **Qin** ’s argument that Couch’s parents should have raised him better? Doesn’t that apply to anyone who has ever done anything wrong? To anyone who has ever done anything wrong? No. I’m middle-aged. At this point, I’m responsible for any criminal acts I commit. I’ve had time as an adult to be significantly influenced by things other than my parents. I’ve been exposed to other environments. Ethan Couch was 16 and his parents turned him into a drunk driver – they gave him pills, liquor and vehicles (even when he was too young to have a driver’s license). I’ll hold Ethan responsible. But I’d like to have held his parents criminally responsible too. He wasn’t bad _despite_ his parents, he was bad _because_ of his parents. ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/43 "2016-01-01T20:05:40Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > I don’t see why they fled in the first place if he was only facing a few month’s in jail. They might not have known that. They might have thought he was facing 8-10 years in prison. That it was only a few months has taken everyone by surprise. So unless they consulted a lawyer first, it would be natural for them to assume that Ethan might go to prison for the rest of his probation period. It’s not like they’re the sharpest tools in the shed. They didn’t even dump the cellphone. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/44 "2016-01-01T20:40:25Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > I don’t see why they fled in the first place if he was only facing a few month’s in jail. As mentioned, knuckleheads, be they from the affluent burbs or the trailer park, even when they are only on the hook for something minor tend to run first and think later. Much, much later, after they have _really_ compounded the problem. We already know rational thinking and careful consideration of consequences is not this dude’s strong suit (heck that was his whole excuse!). As \*\*lalaith \*\*said, they probably did not seek proper counsel and could see nothing in their minds but him headed for Texas Corrections general population whose regular nonprivileged dwellers were waiting with bated breath to get their hands on the world-famous Affluenza Kid and give him something to really cry about. That both he and the mother thought “heading south Mexico way” is still any way to get away from US justice, though, speaks to a misinformed/obsolete mindset. It may be they thought that this case would be low priority and the local authorities would say “sorry, too busy chasing drug cartels”, but this was a high-publicity high-RO case so Texas was not going to just let it be, and the Mexicans likely would say “What, some _pinche_ teenage idiot… on the run with his _mamá_? Really? _Patético._ Hey, sure, we can use a case where nobody’s getting chainsawed for a break.” ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2016, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/45 "2016-01-01T21:01:17Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > I don’t see why they fled in the first place if he was only facing a few month’s in jail. Likewise, why is he fighting the extradition back to the US? Surely he couldn’t expect to win and it will simply add to the total time he’s in detention as his stay courtesy of the Mexican government isn’t going to reduce any sentence in the US. Let’s face it, there isn’t a long track record of common sense in the family ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/46 "2016-01-03T18:59:21Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I’m really enjoying that they were busted by ordering Domino’s Pizza. _So_ not worth going to jail for! Well, there’s an upside; prison food will taste better by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/47 "2016-01-03T19:21:19Z")
Is he free in Mexico? I don’t understand why he is fighting extradition. ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2016, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/48 "2016-01-09T01:05:56Z")
> [@](#): > > “She expressed a slight displeasure about her accommodations, and I told her this was a jail and not a resort,” Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson said at a news conference. > [‘Affluenza’ teen’s mom complains about jail conditions](http://news.yahoo.com/affluenza-teens-mom-complains-jail-conditions-171652305.html#) Doesn’t sound like she’ll do well in prison. ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/49 "2016-01-12T02:22:21Z")
[http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/us/texas-affluenza-tonya-couch/](http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/11/us/texas-affluenza-tonya-couch/) With the following conditions if she makes bond: [ul] [li]Wear an electronic ankle monitor[/li][li]Report to authorities on a weekly basis[/li][li]Live in Tarrant County with her 29-year-old son and his family[/li][li]Abstain from using controlled substances or alcohol (she’ll be drug tested)[/li][li]Be placed under 24-hour home confinement (lawyers and doctors are allowed to visit her)[/li][li]Not possess or transport any firearms or weapons[/li][li]Pay a monthly $60 supervision fee[/li][li]Avoid “bad actors[/li][/ul]” ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/50 "2016-01-12T02:28:15Z")
Why the fuck did they lower the bond? They suffer from Affluenza. ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/51 "2016-01-12T03:08:07Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Why the fuck did they lower the bond? They suffer from Affluenza. CNN showed part of the bond appeal hearing, then cut away. The argument the legal analyst said was that this was an unusually high bond for this offense. I guess that gets back to the reasoning behind bonds. Is it based on the offense or is it based on what it would take to make it likely that person X would appear? Or is it some combination of both? I know I was surprised that Bill Cosby had a million dollars, though only a 10% bond. I wondered at the time if other people charged with what he was charged with would get that high a bail or if his was so high because he’s so rich. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/52 "2016-01-12T03:16:57Z")
she has already shown herself to be a flight risk, should be sitting in jail ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/53 "2016-01-12T20:58:19Z")
[http://news.yahoo.com/texas-affluenza-teens-mother-released-jail-153127279.html](http://news.yahoo.com/texas-affluenza-teens-mother-released-jail-153127279.html) ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/54 "2016-01-12T21:02:46Z")
> [@lalaith](#): > > [http://news.yahoo.com/texas-affluenza-teens-mother-released-jail-153127279.html](http://news.yahoo.com/texas-affluenza-teens-mother-released-jail-153127279.html) Plutocracy is the order of the day. If Sanders was smart, he’d be calling for the gulag for this woman. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/55 "2016-01-12T22:41:03Z")
> [@lalaith](#): > > [http://news.yahoo.com/texas-affluenza-teens-mother-released-jail-153127279.html](http://news.yahoo.com/texas-affluenza-teens-mother-released-jail-153127279.html) I guess it’s true. Jail is for poor people, not the affluent. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/56 "2016-01-13T00:52:58Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > I guess it’s true. Jail is for poor people, not the affluent. Read the article. She was released on bond. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/57 "2016-01-13T05:29:39Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Read the article. She was released on bond. A bond that was reduced from $1 million to $75,000. You don’t get that kind of lawyering from a PD. Did you read the article? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/58 "2016-01-13T07:11:10Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > A bond that was reduced from $1 million to $75,000. You don’t get that kind of lawyering from a PD. > > Did you read the article? The Jezebel undoubtedly performed certain personal services for His Honour, although I must question the judgement of any man who would accept those so-called pleasures from what TRUMP would aptly call [“That face”](http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-LX543_1231af_J_20151231065233.jpg). Undoubtedly her appearance shows the dysgenic nature of the American overclass. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2016, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854/59 "2016-01-13T10:09:32Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > The Jezebel undoubtedly performed certain personal services for His Honour, although I must question the judgement of any man who would accept those so-called pleasures from what TRUMP would aptly call [“That face”](http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-LX543_1231af_J_20151231065233.jpg). Undoubtedly her appearance shows the dysgenic nature of the American overclass. Are you on drugs? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/assuming-affluenza-teen-mom-have-fled-the-us-what-penalty-does-mom-get/740854.md?page=2)