"Affluenza" teen Ethan Couch drops Mexico appeal

[Judi Lynn]

Source: CBS/AP

CBS/AP/ January 26, 2016, 6:17 PM

"Affluenza" teen Ethan Couch drops Mexico appeal

MEXICO CITY -- The Mexican lawyer for a Texas teenager who used an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident says his client has dropped an appeal against deportation and will return to Texas to face charges in the coming days.

Attorney Fernando Benitez said Tuesday that Ethan Couch formally ratified his decision to drop the appeal on Monday.

"I gave him several options, but he decided to go to Texas to face whatever charges he faces," Benitez.

The appeal had led to a court injunction against Mexico's original decision to deport Couch. Since then, he has been held at an immigration detention center on the outskirts of Mexico City.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/affluenza-teen-ethan-couch-drops-mexico-appeal/

[valerief]

1. Daddy must have paid off all the right Texan justice department people. nt

[vinny9698]

2. Got that right

The big fix is in.
There was a case in TN where local politicians were selling their votes and were caught by an FBI sting. The citizens were more outraged by the amount of money these locals were getting bribed with. $20 were some of the bribes.

[valerief]

5. Wow. Even street hookers charge more than that. nt

[CanonRay]

3. Or he decided the food is bad in the Mexican jail

[getagrip_already]

4. more likely they made a calculation...

that emotions had cooled and he stands a better chance of not being kicked up to adult court if he can say he came back voluntarily....

I think they thought they could let the clock run out by staying in mexico until his b'day, but the hearing was still going to be held, with or without him.

He has a very good legal team. They tell him when to change his mind and why.

It's sickening. Hopefully he gets kicked to adult probation; he won't last - not in Texas. You can get violated for jaywalking there.

[24601]

6. He turned 18 last April so that wasn't it. We aren't in the meetings with his lawyer so we really

have to guess.

I believe it's plausible that there were discussions in Texas about what charges his mother would face based on whether he came back or not.

But whether you are guilty or innocent, it's usually good advice to shut up, listen to your lawyers, and let do the talking. There are no shortage of convicts that put themselves in jail by providing the evidence out of their own mouths. Or they charge you with lying to the police when they have no legal requirement to tell the truth.

[getagrip_already]

7. his magic b'day is his 19th...

Once he turn 19, his juvie sentence is over. Finished. No further action can be taken.

It's an oddity of TX law. But if he gets up to adult court, he has to serve out the remainder of his 10 year probation. There is a hearing on 2/19 to move his case to adult court. If that happens, he can get a parole violation at any point and get a very long jail term.

[24601]

8. OK Thanks

[closeupready]

9. In crossing the border, however, don't federal statutes apply?

[getagrip_already]

10. i'm not a lawyer..

and I'm not playing one here. I'm just going on what's been reported, but as far as I've seen, they haven't broken any federal laws. They have broken TX law, and left the country in flight from justice, but I haven't heard that broke any federal laws.

I'm not even sure there is an actual requirement that you have a passport to leave the US. If a country lets you in, you may not have violated any laws. You would have a hassle returning, but handcuffs are probably a good alternative.