# Judge Lets Killer Drunk Driver Off Because He's Spoiled **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 12, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119 "2013-12-12T00:00:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/161 "2015-12-29T13:25:13Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > I hope he gets waaaaaaay more than just probation violation. Well, there’s the probation violation, i.e. the video record of him playing beer pong. And then there’s the felony fleeing/eluding, i.e. his disappearance to Mexico. which is a whole separate issue. Between the two offenses, I suspect he’s likely to do some time in prison. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/162 "2015-12-29T13:46:19Z")
Mom needs to spend some time in jail too. She didn’t do him any favours by helping him get out of the country. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/163 "2015-12-29T16:59:48Z")
Or by spoiling him in the first place. He learned his “values” at home, in all likelihood. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/164 "2015-12-29T18:42:55Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Well, there’s the probation violation, i.e. the video record of him playing beer pong. And then there’s the felony fleeing/eluding, i.e. his disappearance to Mexico. which is a whole separate issue. Between the two offenses, I suspect he’s likely to do some time in prison. Well, the original sentence was 10 years, so once his parole is revoked he’ll be resentenced to at least that. So he’ll definitely do _some_ time. Personally, I don’t think he should have been tried as an adult in the first place but now that he’s over 18 I can’t work up too much outrage. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/165 "2015-12-29T21:19:39Z")
Has the judge been censored or anything for what seems to be a stupid ruling? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/166 "2015-12-29T21:25:25Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, the original sentence was 10 years, so once his parole is revoked he’ll be resentenced to at least that. So he’ll definitely do _some_ time. Personally, I don’t think he should have been tried as an adult in the first place but now that he’s over 18 I can’t work up too much outrage. According to CNN, the maximum penalty appears to be 120 days in jail. [http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/29/us/affluenza-teen-ethan-couch-detained-in-mexico/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/29/us/affluenza-teen-ethan-couch-detained-in-mexico/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/167 "2015-12-29T21:42:28Z")
Huh. I thought he had already been transferred to the adult justice system. In fact I thought somebody had said so in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/168 "2015-12-29T22:41:32Z")
I wonder if it’s CNN playing with semantics to turn up the outrage. According to [this CNN report](http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/12/justice/texas-teen-dwi-wreck/) two years ago: _Couch was given no jail time, though he could face up to 10 years behind bars if he violates the terms of his probation. Prosecutors had asked for the maximum of 20 years._ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/169 "2015-12-29T23:09:08Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Has the judge been censored or anything for what seems to be a stupid ruling? Censured. ---
**Author:** ![phantom\_lamb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@phantom\_lamb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phantom_lamb)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/170 "2015-12-29T23:39:23Z")
As an aside, is it just me or is the picture of this kid that kept circulating the interwebs when the story broke NOT the actual idiot kid in question? Compare [this](http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Ethan-Couch.jpg) and what he actually looks like, [here](http://cdn.tegna-tv.com/-mm-/7bb05894637ad9877e3c62506ac0b9e549e48262/c=450-74-1464-836&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/12/19/WFAA/WFAA/635861377952085521-1219-ethan-couch01.jpg) I _might_ be wrong but I’m almost certain this is not the same person. Which makes me wonder who’s the poor kid in the first photo who got slandered all over the internet. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2015, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/171 "2015-12-29T23:47:44Z")
After his daddy’s empire collapses, I bet people will be coming out of the woodwork to talk about what that company was like to work for. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/172 "2015-12-30T00:29:49Z")
McLovin. I can’t be the first to notice that. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/173 "2015-12-30T01:48:23Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Has the judge been censored or anything for what seems to be a stupid ruling? The judge has retired. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/174 "2015-12-30T01:48:55Z")
> [@phantom\_lamb](#): > > As an aside, is it just me or is the picture of this kid that kept circulating the interwebs when the story broke NOT the actual idiot kid in question? > > Compare [this](http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Ethan-Couch.jpg) > > and what he actually looks like, [here](http://cdn.tegna-tv.com/-mm-/7bb05894637ad9877e3c62506ac0b9e549e48262/c=450-74-1464-836&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/12/19/WFAA/WFAA/635861377952085521-1219-ethan-couch01.jpg) > > I _might_ be wrong but I’m almost certain this is not the same person. Which makes me wonder who’s the poor kid in the first photo who got slandered all over the internet. FTR, here’s a photo of him with his hair dyed black, from his current arrest in Puerto Vallarta. You know, so he blends. > **['Affluenza' Teen Detained In Mexico](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/affluenza-teen-detained-mexico_n_5681fbfae4b06fa688810527?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular)** > > His attorneys used the "affluenza" defense, which claimed he was so wealthy and spoiled that he could not tell the difference between right and wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/175 "2015-12-30T06:18:53Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > I wonder if it’s CNN playing with semantics to turn up the outrage. According to [this CNN report](http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/12/justice/texas-teen-dwi-wreck/) two years ago: > > _Couch was given no jail time, though he could face up to 10 years behind bars if he violates the terms of his probation. Prosecutors had asked for the maximum of 20 years._ Let’s hope so. Like real, federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/176 "2015-12-30T10:41:12Z")
So was it ever actually confirmed if the judge really bought the affluenza defense or not? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/177 "2015-12-30T13:12:45Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > The judge has retired. I guess the person has sufficient money to retire on given the sentence. Also, all the bleeding hearts at the start of this thread will now own up that the sentence was not really appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/178 "2015-12-30T13:25:53Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > So was it ever actually confirmed if the judge really bought the affluenza defense or not? I don’t know, but she gave 14 year old black kid 10 years after he killed another kid with a punch (the victim fell and hit his head); the judge is married to a very wealthy man, so perhaps the affluenza defense made sense to her. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/179 "2015-12-30T17:31:00Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > After his daddy’s empire collapses, I bet people will be coming out of the woodwork to talk about what that company was like to work for. The dad has been cooperating with authorities. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Let’s hope so. Like real, federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison. Rape for everybody! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![lalaith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@lalaith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lalaith)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119/180 "2015-12-30T18:35:03Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > So was it ever actually confirmed if the judge really bought the affluenza defense or not? I recall a quote from her at the time that she wasn’t sending the defendant to prison because he wouldn’t do well in the prison environment. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judge-lets-killer-drunk-driver-off-because-hes-spoiled/676119.md?page=10)