Massive Uproar Over The Teenager Who Won Freedom In A Drunk Driving Case By Arguing He Was Too Wealthy For Prison

Psychologists argued he's suffering from "affluenza," a condition that makes you too rich to understand that your actions have consequences.

by Ryan Broderick

BuzzFeed News Reporter

Posted on December 13, 2013, 4:29 pm

[Psychologist Dr. G. Dick ] Miller said Couch's parents gave him "freedoms no young person should have." He called Couch a product of "affluenza," where his family felt that wealth bought privilege and there was no rational link between behavior and consequences.He said Couch got whatever he wanted. As an example, Miller said Couch's parents gave no punishment after police ticketed the then-15-year-old when he was found in a parked pickup with a passed-out and undressed 14-year-old girl.Miller also pointed out that Couch was allowed to drive at age 13. He said the teen was emotionally flat and needed years of therapy.

Kenny Webster
@ProducerKen
These are Ethan Couch's victims. His legal defense for killing them was that he's a spoiled brat. #Affluenza
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Alex
@AlexTubaGeek
Ethan Couch story is fucking ridiculous. He pleaded guilty to drink driving and manslaughter. Being rich isn't a disease! Fuck's sake.
/ Via

ïº¯ï»³ï»¨ïº âœŒ
@Z_Hachem
Ethan Couch's defense is claiming that he can't go to jail because he is too rich and spoiled to know right from wrong..he killed 4 people
/ Via

MichaelLoBurgio
@MikeLoBurgio
#justice #Wealthy #Texas# teen gets probation for fatal #DWI after using #affluenza defense http://t.co/96Nimv7yxS
/ Via

Sean Morrow
@snmrrw
Ethan Couch killed more people than Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
/ Via

Andres Cruz
@iamn0tillegal
Ethan Couch. I wish I was a 16 year old rich white kid so I could get drunk, crash, kill four people, and only get ten years probation.
/ Via

Nativity In The Face
@Notintheface1
Ethan Couch getting off with the "affluenza" defense after killing 4 people is society saying "Ohhhh fuck it, let's just make it official.".
/ Via

Nappy Roots
@KuntaKutiKing
#Affluenza
/ Via

Goldie Taylor
@goldietaylor
There is a known and effective cure for #Affluenza. It's called jail.
/ Via

Don Ward
@donlward
Has anyone heard of #poorfluenza? Oh - my bad #Affluenza.
/ Via

Wet Dentist
@wetdentist
we filthy #poors are immune to #Affluenza. so there's that
/ Via

Claude Garcia
@bbeachbbum04
#ethancouch #Affluenza
/ Via

Update: The headline has been changed to make clearer that Couch pled guilty. h/t @sladehv)

Ryan Broderick
BuzzFeed News Reporter
Contact Ryan Broderick at ryan@buzzfeed.com.
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Massive Uproar Over The Teenager Who Won Freedom In A Drunk Driving Case By Arguing He Was Too Wealthy For Prison

Ethan Couch, a 16-year-old from Texas, was sentenced to 10 years' probation by a juvenile court on Tuesday.

On June 15, Couch caused a drunk driving crash that left four people dead: youth pastor Brian Jennings, 41; mother and daughter Hollie, 52, and Shelby Boyles, 21; and 24-year-old Breanna Mitchell.

Couch was driving seven passengers, four of which were thrown from the vehicle. Two were critically injured, including one who remains paralyzed and can only communicate by blinking his eyes.

Couch's defense brought in psychologist Dick Miller, who argued that he suffered from "affluenza"...

After it was reported that Couch would receive no jail time, social media exploded, filling with furious updates from users.

Couch's defense attorneys suggested that he enter a rehabilitation clinic where he can receive treatment for his wealthy upbringing.