Judge says 16 year old too rich to know right from wrong

[Tgo01]

Ethan Couch Sentenced To Probation In Crash That Killed 4 After Defense Argued He Had 'Affluenza' (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/11/ethan-couch-sentenced_n_4426722.html)


A 16-year-old avoided spending time in prison for killing four people in a car accident in June after the judge bought his lawyers' argument that he was the victim of wealth.

CBSDFW reports that Ethan Couch was sentenced to 10 years probation for the drunk driving crash that ended the lives of youth pastor, Brian Jennings; Hollie and Shelby Boyles; and Breanna Mitchell.

Prosecutors asked that Couch serve 20 years in prison. His blood alcohol level was .24, three times the legal limit for an adult.

Psychologist G. Dick Miller testified for the defense that Couch suffered from "affluenza," a condition in which "his family felt that wealth bought privilege and there was no rational link between behavior and consequences," KHOU reported.

Miller said Couch's parents never punished him for his behavior, even when, in a separate incident, cops found him passed out in a car with a naked 14-year-old girl.

As part of his sentence, Couch will be sent to a private counseling center that costs $450,000, which will be paid for by his father.

Money and privilege has helped defendants avoid serious prison time for violent crimes before.

In a particularly clear example, cited by journalist Glenn Greenwald, hedge fund manager Martin Joel Erzinger served just 90 days in jail after driving the car that seriously injured a bicyclist and fled the scene of the accident in 2010.

The district attorney in the case charged Erzlinger with two misdemeanors instead of a felony, noting that "felony convictions have some pretty serious job implications for someone in Mr. Erzinger's profession."

tl;dr

Drunk 16 year old kills four people in an auto accident, his lawyers argue that since his family is so rich he was brought up to think he could do whatever he wants therefore he shouldn't be held accountable for his actions, judge buys bullshit story and sentences the kid to private counseling sessions.

[Archigeek]

Read this earlier today. Idiotic.

[Archigeek]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKIaS0lh-uo

[waywardgs]

Repo man is such a great movie. I love the generic boxes on the shelf in the background.

[Archigeek]

Yeah I love that scene. "I blame society."

[Jarvan]

So .. basically.

Lawyers argue kid was brought up to believe that if you were rich, you could get away with anything.. therefore the judge allows him to get away with anything.

Talk about reinforcing bad behavior.

[Gelston]

I bet this kid won't be a prick when he is older.

[Parkbandit]

Ethan Couch Sentenced To Probation In Crash That Killed 4 After Defense Argued He Had 'Affluenza' (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/11/ethan-couch-sentenced_n_4426722.html)

tl;dr

Drunk 16 year old kills four people in an auto accident, his lawyers argue that since his family is so rich he was brought up to think he could do whatever he wants therefore he shouldn't be held accountable for his actions, judge buys bullshit story and sentences the kid to private counseling sessions.

If he only had a mild case of affluenza before, he's got a severe case of it now.

[Warriorbird]

Texas outdoing California on this one.

[Latrinsorm]

Rich people getting away with crimes? THANKS A LOT, OBAMA!!!

[Wrathbringer]

Rich people getting away with crimes? THANKS A LOT, OBAMA!!!

Lol! Did they at least raise his taxes? Those rich folk only understand one language.

[Keller]

Rich? Check.
White? Check.
Male? Check.


5999

[Taernath]

Privilege: thoroughly checked

[Tgo01]

Man I wish a criminal would knock me over the head and stuff my pockets full of hundred dollar bills so I too could be a "victim of wealth."

[AnticorRifling]

I'm glad to see the lawyer didn't give a fuck about right and wrong too. PAY DAY SON FUCK THAT BLIND JUSTICE BITCH HOLLA!

[Drinin]

I foresee a fuckload of civil lawsuits in the future against this kid's family. Apparently the relatives of the victims are planning on suing the parents of the other kids that were in the car with him because they should have stopped him from driving as they knew he was very intoxicated.

[Bobmuhthol]

I foresee a fuckload of civil lawsuits in the future against this kid's family. Apparently the relatives of the victims are planning on suing the parents of the other kids that were in the car with him because they should have stopped him from driving as they knew he was very intoxicated.I was going to say the same thing earlier but forgot to post it. If the parents' shitty parenting is a legal defense for the kid's behavior, they could easily be held accountable for wrongful death damages.

Good luck collecting from the other parents, though. The kids might be legally culpable, but the expectation that they stop the driver does not extend to their parents.

[Atlanteax]

'Affluenza' is the apex of the liberalism drive to excuse away every ill-conceived behavior in the damning pursuit of rendering the concept of 'personal responsibility' null and void.

[Archigeek]

'Affluenza' is the apex of the liberalism drive to excuse away every ill-conceived behavior in the damning pursuit of rendering the concept of 'personal responsibility' null and void.

Hilarious. Don't try to pawn this shit off on my tribe. The rich white male gets off because daddy never made him be responsible and it's the liberals fault? Who's pawning off responsibility now? Own it brother, this is not a problem of the bastions of liberal thought, it's a problem of the wealthy, regardless of political stripe. I'm sure we could both make laundry lists of people on the political left and right who got away with shit, but in almost every case, the common thread will be family money and power.

[AnticorRifling]

Yeah I'm with Archigeek, don't think that would be a liberal play...

[Jeril]

Hilarious. Don't try to pawn this shit off on my tribe. The rich white male gets off because daddy never made him be responsible and it's the liberals fault? Who's pawning off responsibility now? Own it brother, this is not a problem of the bastions of liberal thought, it's a problem of the wealthy, regardless of political stripe. I'm sure we could both make laundry lists of people on the political left and right who got away with shit, but in almost every case, the common thread will be family money and power.

He is talking about lack of personal responsibility in general, not just that of the rich and entitled. The government welfare programs were put in place to help those who had fallen on bad times through no fault of their own, not those who refuse to do anything to better themselves and those who create hardship in their own lives. This is likely the wrong place for that discussion though.

[NinjasLeadTheWay]

Yeah I'm with Archigeek, don't think that would be a liberal play...

You're absolutely right. If this was a Liberal thing, the argument would have been the opposite. The perp would be too poor to feel like they had to obey the law.

[crb]

Hilarious. Don't try to pawn this shit off on my tribe. The rich white male gets off because daddy never made him be responsible and it's the liberals fault? Who's pawning off responsibility now? Own it brother, this is not a problem of the bastions of liberal thought, it's a problem of the wealthy, regardless of political stripe. I'm sure we could both make laundry lists of people on the political left and right who got away with shit, but in almost every case, the common thread will be family money and power.

ahem Kennedy's ahem.

Srsly though, this case is fucked up. The kid should be in prison. Hopefully they will be able to milk those parents with civil wrongful death cases until their eyes bleed.

Lets not forget, he not only killed 4 people, he robbed a liquor store earlier in the night. It wasn't one bad decision, the guy made multiple bad decisions, even when he was still sober.

[Tgo01]

ahem Kennedy's ahem.

Srsly though, this case is fucked up. The kid should be in prison. Hopefully they will be able to milk those parents with civil wrongful death cases until their eyes bleed.

Lets not forget, he not only killed 4 people, he robbed a liquor store earlier in the night. It wasn't one bad decision, the guy made multiple bad decisions, even when he was still sober.

Yeah this NPR (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/12/250490841/probation-for-teen-who-killed-4-heres-the-judges-thinking) article makes it sound like this sentencing is actually much worse than the alternative could have been because you have to figure that the kid will be in juvenile detention until the they figure out which program to put this kid in. The poor poor kid.

Also if he violates the court order he could be sent to prison for 10 years, so now he's "under the thumb" of the system for 10 years.

The alternative would have been a possible 20 year sentence and the kid might have gotten out in 2. Now I'm no expert but can't they also tack on probation after someone is released from prison anyways? Can't they mandate that he go to prison AND have to go to this counseling thing?

What is this one or the other approach NPR is trying to shove down our throats?

[Atlanteax]

Hilarious. Don't try to pawn this shit off on my tribe. The rich white male gets off because daddy never made him be responsible and it's the liberals fault? Who's pawning off responsibility now? Own it brother, this is not a problem of the bastions of liberal thought, it's a problem of the wealthy, regardless of political stripe. I'm sure we could both make laundry lists of people on the political left and right who got away with shit, but in almost every case, the common thread will be family money and power.

My stance is that it was an 'expert' who is promoting 'affluenza' ... just as they do for other 'disabilities' that there are to hide behind.

Psychologist G. Dick Miller testified for the defense that Couch suffered from "affluenza,
Generally, it is a liberal thing, to create shields of "it was not his/her fault ... it was *society's* fault"

[Candor]

Just wait for the civil lawsuits. I bet the family won't have major problems with "Affluenza" years from now.

[Tgo01]

Just wait for the civil lawsuits. I bet the family won't have major problems with "Affluenza" years from now.

I'm no expert but wouldn't the lawsuit be against the teen himself? I think this type of thing varies by state but it's a misconception that parents are 100% responsible for everything their child does until they are 18 years old. Unless they could prove that the parents encouraged him to act like this or put him up to this then I'm pretty sure the lawsuit would be against the teen himself.

If that's true I'm also pretty sure the teen himself has close to zero dollars to his name and the rich family would find some way to make sure it stays that way while still taking care of him.

[Candor]

I'm no expert but wouldn't the lawsuit be against the teen himself? I think this type of thing varies by state but it's a misconception that parents are 100% responsible for everything their child does until they are 18 years old. Unless they could prove that the parents encouraged him to act like this or put him up to this then I'm pretty sure the lawsuit would be against the teen himself.

If that's true I'm also pretty sure the teen himself has close to zero dollars to his name and the rich family would find some way to make sure it stays that way while still taking care of him.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.

If the kid didn't know right from wrong, my position is that the parents are partially responsible.

[Tgo01]

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.

If the kid didn't know right from wrong, my position is that the parents are partially responsible.

That would be my position as well but I'm sure there will be a new and even better defense in any civil lawsuit.

[TheEschaton]

Yeah this NPR (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/12/12/250490841/probation-for-teen-who-killed-4-heres-the-judges-thinking) article makes it sound like this sentencing is actually much worse than the alternative could have been because you have to figure that the kid will be in juvenile detention until the they figure out which program to put this kid in. The poor poor kid.

Also if he violates the court order he could be sent to prison for 10 years, so now he's "under the thumb" of the system for 10 years.

The alternative would have been a possible 20 year sentence and the kid might have gotten out in 2. Now I'm no expert but can't they also tack on probation after someone is released from prison anyways? Can't they mandate that he go to prison AND have to go to this counseling thing?

What is this one or the other approach NPR is trying to shove down our throats?

He could have been out in 2 years because it would have been a juvenile sentence. Idiots are arguing 10 years probation is worse because the parents need to pay 450k rehab bills per year til psychologists deem him "okay." My guess is he won't be in rehab long since, well, affluenza is a made up thing.

That being said, it's bullshit he wasn't tried as an adult. He obviously made some rather adult decisions on the way to having a .24 BAC, he should have been treated like one.

[Tgo01]

Idiots are arguing 10 years probation is worse because the parents need to pay 450k rehab bills per year til psychologists deem him "okay." My guess is he won't be in rehab long since, well, affluenza is a made up thing.

That's what I was thinking too. How do you even seriously try to treat someone with "affulenza."


That being said, it's bullshit he wasn't tried as an adult. He obviously made some rather adult decisions on the way to having a .24 BAC, he should have been treated like one.

That's a good point too.

[Candor]

That's what I was thinking too. How do you even seriously try to treat someone with "affulenza."

Well...I kind of like the gravel production approach while living in rather spartan conditions - the point being that since the person doesn't care about right from wrong, you make them care about what will happen when they hurt other people. But that's me.

[Atlanteax]

Well...I kind of like the gravel production approach while living in rather spartan conditions - the point being that since the person doesn't care about right from wrong, you make them care about what will happen when they hurt other people. But that's me.

Make them care about pain to others, by hurting them, right? Too bad that would be 'cruel and unusual'

[Johnny Five]

DEATH RACE 2014!!!!!!!!

[Latrinsorm]

Make them care about pain to others, by hurting them, right? Too bad that would be 'cruel and unusual'Fact: bald guys are smart. (Professor X, Captain Picard, Ebenezer Scrooge)
Fact: one time a bald guy said that civilization rests on the principle that we treat our criminals better than they treated their victims.
QED

[Bobmuhthol]

That would be my position as well but I'm sure there will be a new and even better defense in any civil lawsuit.One of the nice things about civil trials is that they are much easier to win than criminal trials. You only need to demonstrate that damages occurred and that those damages are the fault of the defendant. The criminal trial concluded that the parents are responsible for the kid being a criminal. You get to bring that to the civil trial as evidence that the parents are at fault for damages. It might be a misconception that parents are 100% responsible for everything their child does, but that in no way means it is a misconception that parents are responsible for some things their child does. Don't forget that corporations are responsible for their employees doing stupid shit on the grounds that they should have known better than to hire someone who does stupid shit. It's even easier to make a parent responsible for monetary damages caused by their child.

[Ysamine]

Sounds to me like his daddy bought him a Judge.

This saddens me greatly.

[waywardgs]

If he'd been tried as an adult he'd learn the difference between right and wrong much faster with bubba "the hammer" Henderson tenderizing him in the shower.

[Thondalar]

If he'd been tried as an adult he'd learn the difference between right and wrong much faster with bubba "the hammer" Henderson tenderizing him in the shower.

They love little rich white boys in prison. They got money for the canteen.

[Archigeek]

That's what I was thinking too. How do you even seriously try to treat someone with "affulenza."

Hmm, you could be on to something. If it doesn't exist, he can't be cured, therefore they'll have to treat him until they identify the disease? Work with me here.

Also, that psychiatrist's name is about perfect for his role in this whole thing, and he's now set for a life of high priced consulting fees, seeing as he was part of the team that convinced a jury of this, he can con any jury.

[Tgo01]

Ah snap! I think the families found a way to get the father on the hook after all. Well his company at least. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/18/ethan-couch-affluenza-lawsuits-car-crash-texas_n_4461585.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular)


Ethan Couch's troubles aren't over yet.

On Dec. 10, the Texas 16-year-old was sentenced to a decade of probation after killing four people while driving drunk. During his trial, a psychologist called by the defense testified that Couch suffers from "affluenza," meaning that on the night of the crash he did not understand the consequences of his actions because of his privileged upbringing. Prosecutors had sought a maximum sentence of 20 years.

Couch is facing five lawsuits brought by families of the crash victims. The suits also target Couch's father, Fred Couch, as well as Fred's company, Cleburne Metal Works, which owned the pickup Couch was driving during the fatal wreck.

Marla Mitchell, mother of Breanna Mitchell, 24, who was killed in the crash, is suing for unspecified damages, as is Shaunna Jennings, wife of 41-year-old youth pastor Brian Jennings, who was also killed, reports NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. Eric and Marguerite Boyles are suing on behalf of deceased family members Hollie Boyles, 52, and Shelby Boyles, 21. The parents of two injured victims are also suing.

The tragic accident occurred when Couch was driving 30 mph over the speed limit outside Dallas on June 15 and swerved off the road. His Ford F-350 hit a small crowd of pedestrians gathered near Breanna Mitchell's broken-down car. Couch's blood-alcohol level was .24 at the time, which is three times the legal limit for an adult in the state of Texas.

[Grey]

That's a really narrow interpretation. Like... super narrow.

[Gelston]

Wouldn't it be interesting if they are sued into bankruptcy and can no longer afford the 400+ grand a year treatment facility and thus violates the probation, therefor causing a 20 year jail sentence to be unsuspended?

[Tgo01]

That's a really narrow interpretation. Like... super narrow.

I'll have to take your word for it because I'm not sure what you're referring to :/


Wouldn't it be interesting if they are sued into bankruptcy and can no longer afford the 400+ grand a year treatment facility and thus violates the probation, therefor causing a 20 year jail sentence to be unsuspended?

We can hope.

[Latrinsorm]

What kind of asshole drives an F-350 for leisure anyway? F-150 is already more than enough truck for bombing around.

[Grey]

I'll have to take your word for it because I'm not sure what you're referring to :/

Yeah, I replied with a quote to mscon, then deleted the entire quote like a retard.

[Suppressed Poet]

The tragedy in this story is that this kid is very likely to soon repeat another serious crime. That means one day some other family is going to be a victim to this punk.


What kind of asshole drives an F-350 for leisure anyway? F-150 is already more than enough truck for bombing around.

I can answer this one. The kid lives in Tarrant County, which is Fort Worth. Fort Worth is all about Texas country, and has a deep love for pickup trucks. This is 'Murica country. The rich kids in Fort Worth drive F350 King Ranch edition truck.

Having a former classmate in high school exactly like this person in described, I do believe the condition the judge described to be a real thing. I personally witnessed (from my own separate vehicle) the prior mentioned classmate total is Dodge 3500 by ramming into the back of a DART bus. He was completely out of his mind obliterated drunk, and the cops first had to take him to the hospital. Thank God there were no injuries save his dumbass had alcohol poisoning and minor cuts/bruises. I was the one to call his dad to let him know what happened. I'll never forget the first words that came out of his mouth..."Well, guess I'm going to have to buy him a new pickup truck".

And yes, having money and being white continues to be a get out of jail free card in this country. Had this been a poor 16 year old nig from South Dallas driving a beat-up 1985 Caprice Classic, he would have been tried as an adult and received a life sentence.

[Thondalar]

I think it's funny how they validated his defense by...validating his defense. And by funny I mean sad and pathetic.

[Suppressed Poet]

They love little rich white boys in prison. They got money for the canteen.

Generally in America, the prisons that white wealthy males go to is not quite the hardship you would expect.

Hell...take Bernard Madoff for example. That motherfucker stole 17 billion dollars and fucked over a huge number of everyday hard working folks. He serves his "hard time" in a gahdang resort.

[Gelston]

What kind of asshole drives an F-350 for leisure anyway? F-150 is already more than enough truck for bombing around.

I actually agree. My Dakota just got totaled but the next vehicle I'm looking for is a Ram 1500. I will not need anything bigger than that. It is a nice sized pickup, it has good pulling ability.... I have known people who get bigger though for the same reason that someone buys a corvette.

[Tgo01]

I have known people who get bigger though for the same reason that someone buys a corvette.

To get lots of ass?

[Gelston]

To get lots of ass?

Pretty much.

[Thondalar]

Generally in America, the prisons that white wealthy males go to is not quite the hardship you would expect.

Hell...take Bernard Madoff for example. That motherfucker stole 17 billion dollars and fucked over a huge number of everyday hard working folks. He serves his "hard time" in a gahdang resort.

Generally, they end up going to minimum security Federal prisons, which, compared to your average State facility, is more like a resort. This is because they're generally arrested for things like Securities Fraud, not DUI manslaughter x4. Rich people convicted of a non-federal crime do not get to go to a Federal prison.

This little guy here would be going to a Texas State Penitentiary. Big difference.

I worked for several years in a Florida State prison...I knew plenty of "well-off" inmates that ate their meals in the chow hall because other inmates would give them a shopping list for the canteen, and they wouldn't have anything left over for themselves afterwards.

[Gelston]

Generally in America, the prison you go to is based on the crime you have committed and your conduct while in said prison. If you are a bad inmate, you may go to a different prison if your current prison can't accommodate you.

[Tgo01]

I was going to make a new thread about this but since this thread is already about 16 year olds...

If someone's 16 year old son was acting like a little shit and you yelled at him to knock it off would you bitch slap the parents if they told you their son is only 16 and implies that he is therefore not old enough to know better and therefore you were wrong for yelling at him? Keep in mind this kid does not have any sort of medical issues that would actually be a legitimate excuse for him not to know better.

I'm in mid slap and need to know if I should follow through.

[Candor]

I was going to make a new thread about this but since this thread is already about 16 year olds...

If someone's 16 year old son was acting like a little shit and you yelled at him to knock it off would you bitch slap the parents if they told you their son is only 16 and implies that he is therefore not old enough to know better and therefore you were wrong for yelling at him? Keep in mind this kid does not have any sort of medical issues that would actually be a legitimate excuse for him not to know better.

I'm in mid slap and need to know if I should follow through.

Slapping is assault - that's a crime. So no, I wouldn't slap the parents.

But I would tell them what I think of their parenting. If they said anything else...unusual...during the exchange, I might report it to Child Welfare Services.

[Archigeek]

To get lots of ass?

Compensation for inadequacies in other areas.

[Latrinsorm]

I was going to make a new thread about this but since this thread is already about 16 year olds...

If someone's 16 year old son was acting like a little shit and you yelled at him to knock it off would you bitch slap the parents if they told you their son is only 16 and implies that he is therefore not old enough to know better and therefore you were wrong for yelling at him? Keep in mind this kid does not have any sort of medical issues that would actually be a legitimate excuse for him not to know better.

I'm in mid slap and need to know if I should follow through.Your one-handed WPM is amazing. Lots of practice?

[Tgo01]

Your one-handed WPM is amazing. Lots of practice?

Hey you used to play GS! Don't pretend you didn't get lots of practice as well while in the bathhouse.

[Jeril]

I was going to make a new thread about this but since this thread is already about 16 year olds...

If someone's 16 year old son was acting like a little shit and you yelled at him to knock it off would you bitch slap the parents if they told you their son is only 16 and implies that he is therefore not old enough to know better and therefore you were wrong for yelling at him? Keep in mind this kid does not have any sort of medical issues that would actually be a legitimate excuse for him not to know better.

I'm in mid slap and need to know if I should follow through.

This seems to be a large problem with our society.

[Tgo01]

This seems to be a large problem with our society.

I wonder if these people realize their precious little innocent 16 year old kids will be legal adults in two years and their actions will have adult consequences.

Way to fail at parenting by not preparing your child for adulthood.

[Jeril]

I wonder if these people realize their precious little innocent 16 year old kids will be legal adults in two years and their actions will have adult consequences.

Way to fail at parenting by not preparing your child for adulthood.

A kid would have to live in a bubble to be truly innocent these days. Most people don't seem to realize that because 'we' expect 'young people' to screw up and make mistakes that they often will and that as you pointed out, because they are 'young people' we've preexcused them and don't really hold them responsible for their actions.

[Tgo01]

Judge orders no jail for Ethan Couch, teen in fatal car wreck (http://www.aol.com/article/2014/02/06/judge-orders-no-jail-for-ethan-couch-teen-in-fatal-car-wreck/20824488/?icid=maing-grid7|maing8|dl1|sec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D439614)


FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - A judge on Wednesday ordered a Texas teenager who was sentenced to 10 years' probation in a drunken-driving crash that killed four people to go to a rehabilitation facility paid for by his parents.

Judge Jean Boyd again decided to give no jail time for Ethan Couch, defense attorney Reagan Wynn and prosecutors told reporters after the hearing, which was closed to the public. Prosecutors had asked Boyd to sentence him to 20 years in state custody on charges related to two people who were severely injured.

The sentence stirred fierce debate, as has the testimony of a defense expert who says Couch's wealthy parents coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility. The expert termed the condition "affluenza."

Wynn and prosecutor Richard Alpert would not identify the facility where Couch will go or where it is located. The teen's family previously had offered to pay for Couch to go to a $450,000-a-year rehabilitation center near Newport Beach, Calif.

Couch, who's currently in state custody, is expected to receive alcohol and drug rehab, and could face prison time if he runs away from the facility or violates any other terms of his probation, Alpert said.

There is no minimum amount of time Couch must spend in the facility before his release, prosecutor Riley Shaw said.

Wynn ripped the media and the public's focus on "affluenza" and said that his client was misunderstood.

He said reporting of the Couch case had "so twisted the facts that were actually presented in court that I don't think the truth will ever be able to come out now."

"It was ridiculous to think that we walked into court and said, 'Oh, this is a rich white kid,' and she decided to probate him," he said.

But Alpert accused Wynn of hypocrisy, pointing out that a defense witness made the comment in the first place.

"His witnesses don't say things by accident," Alpert said. "So they thought maybe that would help - that's my interpretation - and it blew up on them. It was a stupid thing to say."

Couch's parents did not speak to reporters as they entered the courtroom. Several relatives of Couch's victims also attended Wednesday's hearing.

"The families feel like the same way they felt the last time they were here," Alpert said.

Asking Boyd to give Couch jail time for intoxication assault was a last-ditch effort by prosecutors, who have said they have almost no way to appeal the judge's sentence in the case.

Alpert said he hoped the Couch case would lead the Texas Legislature to allow juries to sentence some juvenile defendants. The case has already spurred calls for potential changes. Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who serves as president of the Senate, has asked for a study of sentencing guidelines in intoxication manslaughter cases.

But Wynn lauded Boyd for giving Couch probation and recognizing the possibility that he could be reformed better in a rehab facility that in prison.

"We recognize that 16-year-old kids are different from 25-year-old adults," he said.

Couch was 16 at the time of the accident. His blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit for an adult and there were traces of Valium in his system when he lost control of his pickup truck and plowed into a group of people helping a woman whose car had stalled.

Seven passengers were riding in Couch's truck. One, Sergio Molina, is paralyzed and can communicate only by blinking. The other, Solimon Mohmand, suffered numerous broken bones and internal injuries.

My favorite part is there is no minimum amount of time this shit has to spend at this resort. Oh no, I'm sorry! This "rehabilitation center", wink wink.

[waywardgs]

450k a year? I wish I could go.

[cwolff]

My favorite part is there is no minimum amount of time this shit has to spend at this resort. Oh no, I'm sorry! This "rehabilitation center", wink wink.

Equal Justice Under the Law


450k a year? I wish I could go.

HA! Waywardgs is killing it today.

[Taernath]

For $450k a year must it must be pretty swank.

[Wrathbringer]

Equal Justice Under the Law

No such thing. "We are a nation of laws; badly written and randomly enforced." -Frank Zappa

[Whirlin]

If we're lucky, it'll be Ethan Couch versus George Zimmerman.

[waywardgs]

If we're lucky, it'll be Ethan Couch versus George Zimmerman.

Every year, the two most hated legal defendants, selected by the public as having gotten off too easy, must face each other in a deathmatch.

http://www.makesmesmile.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/mad-max-thunderdome.jpg

[Whirlin]

Every year, the two most hated legal defendants, selected by the public as having gotten off too easy, must face each other in a deathmatch.


Ethan Couch versus Casey Anthony
George Zimmerman versus OJ Simpson

Slightly closer on weight classes.

We'll call it a charity event?

[waywardgs]

Lindsay Lohan can be the round girl.

[Taernath]

It's time.

http://epguides.com/CelebrityDeathmatch/cast.jpg

[SHAFT]

Ethan Couch versus Casey Anthony
George Zimmerman versus OJ Simpson

Slightly closer on weight classes.

We'll call it a charity event?

Casey Anthony still needs to do porn. Let's wait on her until we get that.

[Atlanteax]

Well, she just got a $56k scholarship.

http://time.com/47108/teen-who-sued-her-parents-gets-a-56000-college-scholarship/?hpt=hp_t4

Scholarship: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/04/02/rachel-canning-chooses-college/7195715/

So yes, sue, get in the news, and colleges will want the publicity ('merit').

[cwolff]

Well, she just got a $56k scholarship.

http://time.com/47108/teen-who-sued-her-parents-gets-a-56000-college-scholarship/?hpt=hp_t4

Scholarship: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/04/02/rachel-canning-chooses-college/7195715/

So yes, sue, get in the news, and colleges will want the publicity ('merit').

If you liked that you'll love this one.


Much of the outrage over Jurden's 2009 sentencing of Robert H. Richards IV for fourth-degree rape was over her notation that he would not "fare well'' in prison, a mitigating factor that she identified in her order.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/03/dupont-heir-accused-of-raping-second-child/7247883/

[waywardgs]

Yeah, that fucking dirtbag DuPont heir. How is fucking a 3 year old FOURTH DEGREE RAPE? That's a fucking stat rape charge... So fucked.

[Latrinsorm]

Maybe we're going about this the wrong way. Instead of taxing the rich, we should just tax anyone with a roman numeral IV or higher after their name.

Actually my brother's roommate in college was a IVth, and he was decent... as far as I know. That's why instead of taxing, we should have universal surveillance.

Actually... let's do both! Alright, America solved.

[Taernath]

Yeah, that fucking dirtbag DuPont heir. How is fucking a 3 year old FOURTH DEGREE RAPE? That's a fucking stat rape charge... So fucked.

It's bullshit, but that was the plea deal. If the prosecution had gambled and lost like the Casey Anthony trial he might have gotten away completely clean.

[Atlanteax]

It's bullshit, but that was the plea deal. If the prosecution had gambled and lost like the Casey Anthony trial he might have gotten away completely clean.

Yea, reading the article seemed to indicate that the prosecution case was very heavily dependent on circumstantial evidence and the testimony of the daughter who was 3 at the time.

[cwolff]

It's bullshit, but that was the plea deal. If the prosecution had gambled and lost like the Casey Anthony trial he might have gotten away completely clean.

That is true. At least they got a conviction. I wonder how much money this guy has control of. His cousin died in prison for killing that wrestler. He was still rich when he did it. So...if he still has a lot of resources it'd be hard to convict him of a harsher crime.