The Texas teen who made national headlines for killing 4 and injuring 2 has been sentenced to a rehab facility by State District Judge Jean Boyd.
Ethan Couch, escaped jail time, particularly the 20 year maximum requested by prosecutors, even after tests showed Couch had a blood alcohol content of 0.24, three times the legal limit hours after the crash.
Last June, Couch’s pickup plowed into pedestrians before slamming into a parked car, creating a domino effect where it hit a car driving in the opposite direction. The teen’s passengers, who was riding in the pick-ups bed, sustained broken bones, brain and internal injuries. A residential treatment center, that must be paid by Couch’s parents, and 10 years probation has sufficed as punishment, according to the judge. Non-use of drugs and alcohol and banned driving privileges’ are all a part of his probation, and any violations could lead to up to 10 years in the slammer.
Many believe the case and it’s seemingly unfair verdict is a result of white privilege, and “affluenza“, a term coined by a witness describing his lack of discipline from his extremely wealthy parents.
“Had he (Couch) not had money to have the defense there, to also have the experts testify, and also offer to pay for the treatment, I think the results would have been different,” said Eric Boyles after the proceedings Wednesday. Boyles lost his wife, Hollie and daughter Shelby in the crash.