TEXAS: Judge Moves Case Against “Affluenza” Teen To Adult Court, He Now Faces Up To 40 Year Sentence

The Associated Press reports:

A judge on Friday sent the Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck to adult court, raising the possibility that he could get jail time for the 2013 crash that killed four people. Ethan Couch was 16 at the time of the crash. During his juvenile trial, a defense expert invoked the term “affluenza” while arguing that Couch’s wealthy parents had coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility.

Friday’s ruling means the now 18-year-old Couch could face up to 120 days in jail, then finish his 10-year probation. But if he violates his probation during that time, he could get up to 10 years in prison for each of the four people who were killed. Among those attending the hearing was Sergio Molina, who was riding in the back of Couch’s pickup and left paralyzed. He can only communicate by blinking his eyes.

Couch’s mother will be tried for hindering the apprehension of a felon. The pair was nabbed in Puerto Vallarta after a call to Domino’s Pizza was traced to her cell phone.