A 20-year-old Texas man who used a so-called “affluenza” defense to fight a drunken driving conviction in 2013 was released from jail Monday.
With his release, Ethan Couch, will have a strict curfew and wear an electronic monitoring device. He also won’t be able to operate a vehicle without a breathalyzer.
Couch was just 16 when he crashed his Ford pickup into a group of people trying to help a stranded driver in the town of Burleson. Four people were killed.
A psychologist at his manslaughter trial blamed his irresponsibility on family wealth, dubbing it "affluenza." A juvenile court sentenced him to 10 years of probation.
But Couch violated his probation after he attended a party where alcohol was served. He and his mother then fled to Mexico in 2015.
Tonya Couch awaits trial on charges of hindering apprehension of a felon and money laundering.
Couch was brought back to Tarrant County and his probation was revoked. He has spent the last two years in jail.
Watch video of Couch's release, courtesy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Photo credit: Bob Booth for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
