30,000 sign petition demanding "Affluenza" case move to adult court
TEXAS - The advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving confirmed Tuesday that a petition demanding "affluenza" teen Ethan Couch's case be moved from juvenile to adult court met their 30,000 signature goal in just one day, reports CBS DFW.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, typically known as MADD, was hoping to reach the 30,000 signature goal before the teen's scheduled court date in Tarrant County, Texas, on January 19. Couch, who killed four people in a 2013 drunken driving crash, is currently being held in an immigration detention center in Mexico. The 18-year-old allegedly skipped a probation appointment and fled the country in December.
MADD president Colleen Sheehey-Church said in a statement that the group now hopes to double their original goal.
"There is no denying the nation's frustration that Ethan Couch hasn't been held accountable. There is still a week left until Couch's transfer hearing and we're confident we can reach 60,000 signatures," Sheehey-Church said.
Officials with MADD hope transferring Couch's case to adult court will mean the teen sees greater retribution for his crimes. Couch was 16 when he was convicted in juvenile court of intoxication manslaughter in the deadly 2013 case, which gained national notoriety after his defense argued he had "affluenza," which meant he couldn't understand repercussions, because of his coddled upbringing. Couch was sentenced to 10 years probation in the case.
Couch was arrested last month in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, after an international search for him and his mother Tonya, who disappeared after a video surfaced showing the teen at a party where the game beer pong was served. Ethan Couch is prohibited from drinking alcohol under the terms of his probation.
Tonya Couch has been charged with hindering the apprehension of a felon. She was extradited to Texas and was released from jail Tuesday after posting $75,000 bond.