A Texas judge transferred the case of Ethan Couch to the adult court system on Friday. The 18-year-old has become known as the ‘affluenza’ teen and was caught in Mexico in late December.
Couch has been attracting attention since 2013, when he was tried in juvenile court for the killing four people while driving under age. His defense attorneys called a psychiatrist who claimed that Couch suffered from “affluenza” because he never learned the consequences of his actions from his parents. Although he was convicted, he received no jail time and 10 years probation.
Last fall, police began investigating him for a possible probation violation after video that appeared to show him at a party where others were drinking surfaced online. He and his mother, Tonya Couch, fled to Mexico, but were later arrested in December.
Now, Reuters reports that Judge Tim Menikos of Fort Worth moved Couch’s case to adult court. Prosecutors made the request, because it means that he could be sentenced to up to 40 years for another probation violation.
Couch is still going to be in custody at the Tarrant County jail while the judge decides what his punishment will be for his trip to Mexico. His case will be transferred to a district court judge.
As for Tonya Couch, she could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for helping her son.