Too Rich For Prison

Billy86 · 13-12-2013 04:02PM #1

This is just outrageous... American teenager steals drink from a Walmart, goes drink driving (under age) at treble the legal limit and nearly double the speed limit, gets in a crash that kills four pedestrians, and gets off with probation for the explicit reason that he is rich. As in, the judge asserted that if he had less money, he would be going to jail, but because he is rich it's just not really his fault.

The only place he'll have to visit the inside of is a rehab centre that most of us couldn't afford to spend our dream holiday in (and Daddy is chipping in $500,000 for the stay).

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/national_world&id=9358008

To the families of the four deceased victims, Ethan Couch was a killer on the road, a drunken, reckless driver who caused the crash that ended lives.

To the defense, the youth is himself a victim of "affluenza," according to one psychologist - a product of wealthy, privileged parents who never set limits.

The judge appears to have bought into the defense theory, or at least the idea that he's a young man in need of treatment, because he's not going to jail.

The decision disappointed prosecutors and stunned victims' family members, who say they feel that Couch got off too easy. Prosecutors sought 20 years.

"Let's face it. ... There needs to be some justice here," Eric Boyles, who lost his wife and daughter, told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night.

"For 25 weeks, I've been going through a healing process. And so when the verdict came out, I mean, my immediate reaction is, I'm back to week 1."

One of the most stunningly disgusting things I've come across in a while. Here's where he'll spend six months "inside". :mad:

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My name is URL · 13-12-2013 04:05PM

And yet there are people serving life sentences without any chance of parole for non-violent drugs offences

'Murica

SV · 13-12-2013 04:07PM

There's a recurring theme all over the world...Judges are mostly gobshítes of the highest order.

diomed · 13-12-2013 04:07PM

Lock him up, and the judge.

Wompa1 · 13-12-2013 04:10PM

There's a lot of attention on this. I'm sure there will be an appeal. The Judge should be ashamed of himself

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 13-12-2013 04:14PM

someone said this on reddit so i dont know if it's accurate or not

but because it was manslaughter, they couldnt try him as an adult.. so if he'd gone into prison for the 20 years he;d likely have been out very very soon as he's still a minor. by giving him this parole for 10 years the judge has ensured that his life will be under the scrutiny of the police for the next decade, and if he ****s up again after he turns 18 he's utterly boned.

makes sense, but god knows if it's accurate.

jimgoose · 13-12-2013 04:20PM

Billy86 wrote: »

This is just outrageous...

He's just a child. The judge probably reasoned that it's better to try to recondition the lad rather than condemning him to years in prison only to be turned into a head-case permanently.

Billy86 wrote: »

...One of the most stunningly disgusting things I've come across in a while. Here's where he'll spend six months "inside". :mad:

In fairness now the place is as chintzy-looking as the Las Vegas Strip. Nice quiet spot in Martha's Vineyard would be much more puuure daycinter.

Kippure · 13-12-2013 04:22PM

Proves yet again there is one law for the rich and one for the poor.

jimgoose · 13-12-2013 04:24PM

Kippure wrote: »

Proves yet again there is one law for the rich and one for the poor.

Certainly. And the U.S. bail system really throws it into sharp relief.

the_syco · 13-12-2013 04:34PM

My name is URL wrote: »

And yet there are people serving life sentences without any chance of parole for non-violent drugs offences

'Murica

With the 3 strike rule, there are people serving life sentences for shop lifting.

My name is URL · 13-12-2013 04:35PM

jimgoose wrote: »

He's just a child. The judge probably reasoned that it's better to try to recondition the lad rather than condemning him to years in prison only to be turned into a head-case permanently.

He's not just a child. If he's old enough to legally drive, then he should be old enough to face the consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol, and causing deaths using a vehicle.

Kippure · 13-12-2013 04:37PM

the_syco wrote: »

With the 3 strike rule, there are people serving life sentences for shop lifting.

America is simply MAD

StinkyMunkey · 13-12-2013 04:38PM

jimgoose wrote: »

He's just a child. The judge probably reasoned that it's better to try to recondition the lad rather than condemning him to years in prison only to be turned into a head-case permanently.

In fairness he killed four people because of a choice he made, not the follow the laws that apply to everyone (heavy sarcasm attached to the "everyone"). What about the people he has condemed to a life of misery, not only because of the loss, but because of the total lack of justice.

Seriously who cares what happens to him, i hope he burns in hell. Instead, he gets sent on holiday.

Wonder if i used to excuse, my family was very poor and drug addicts, i was never told the difference between right and wrong, im sure the judge would buy into it. Talk about double standards.

StinkyMunkey · 13-12-2013 04:39PM

Kippure wrote: »

America is simply MAD

Its a fcuked up system, but ours is not great either.

Jonny7 · 13-12-2013 04:51PM

A little less sensationalist (even for CNN)

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/11/us/texas-teen-dwi-wreck/

16 yr old guy - judge decided he should be rehabilitated

Obv family wants punishment - I presume prosecutors will press for harsher sentence in this case

Billy86 · 13-12-2013 04:55PM

jimgoose wrote: »

He's just a child. The judge probably reasoned that it's better to try to recondition the lad rather than condemning him to years in prison only to be turned into a head-case permanently.

that kind of crossed my mind... until I heard he's been drinking since he was much younger, allowed drive since he was 13 (despite that being you know, illegal), and most importantly... that he was caught a car with a naked and passed out 14 year old girl last year. Which I assume nothing came of because, you know, money.

I wouldn't have as much issue with this if it were in a country that has a history of treating all under-age cases like this, or with treatment over punishment (which in general is a far better solution - jails as we know them are very dated systems in my opinion). But we're talking about America, where they have jailed 13 and 14 year olds for life (Google 'Lionel Tate' as just one example, but first... guess his skin colour). This is also Texas, where they arrested a 7, 8 and 10 year old not too long ago, and where they sentenced a 14 year old to 23 years in prison for murder just last month (who, shockingly, was from what looks like a black neighbourhood).

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 13-12-2013 04:56PM

well that tate fella beat the **** out of a 6 year old until she died... not exactly comparable

dissed doc · 13-12-2013 04:57PM

Billy86 wrote: »

This is just outrageous... American teenager steals drink from a Walmart, goes drink driving (under age) at treble the legal limit and nearly double the speed limit, gets in a crash that kills four pedestrians, and gets off with probation for the explicit reason that he is rich. As in, the judge asserted that if he had less money, he would be going to jail, but because he is rich it's just not really his fault.

The only place he'll have to visit the inside of is a rehab centre that most of us couldn't afford to spend our dream holiday in (and Daddy is chipping in $500,000 for the stay).

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/national_world&id=9358008

One of the most stunningly disgusting things I've come across in a while. Here's where he'll spend six months "inside". :mad:

Just call it the "drink driving knockout game" and not be white, bingo! Same awesome result!

DipStick McSwindler · 13-12-2013 04:58PM

This post has been deleted.

Potential-Monke · 13-12-2013 05:09PM

Billy86 wrote: »

Google 'Lionel Tate' as just one example, but first... guess his skin colour

Oh that's really wide open to a very racist comment which i will not rise to.

Billy86 · 13-12-2013 05:24PM

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar wrote: »

well that tate fella beat the **** out of a 6 year old until she died... not exactly comparable

Oh it was sick, yes. But this guy went on a drunk driving, speeding rampage and killed four people. After last year being caught with a 14 year old girl passed out and naked in a car with him also. It's not like he's got a squeaky clean background by any means.

padd b1975 · 13-12-2013 05:44PM

I suppose the only option left for the victim's families now is to hit the arrogant pr1ck with a civil suit.

StinkyMunkey · 13-12-2013 05:54PM

padd b1975 wrote: »

I suppose the only option left for the victim's families now is to hit the arrogant pr1ck with a civil suit.

Thing is, if one of their relatives ran this little scrot over, they would go down for murder 1.

up for anything · 13-12-2013 05:58PM

He didn't just kill four people, he also injured two people riding in the back of the pickup truck - one irreparably.

[One is no longer able to move or talk because of a brain injury, while the other suffered internal injuries and broken bones.

I'm not sure what treatment he could be given that would enable him to overcome all that guilt if he ever comes to feel it. He'll be ****ed up whatever they do with him. If he never accepts responsibility for what he did and why should he with the judge having said that it wasn't his fault but his background's fault then that will make him a nightmare of a different sort.

EyeSight · 13-12-2013 06:02PM

the_syco wrote: »

With the 3 strike rule, there are people serving life sentences for shop lifting.

If you're on 2 strikes you probably shouldn't be shoplifting.

Also i see people here criticising USAs long/tough sentences but the only alternative is rehabilitation. Which is what the judge has chosen here. I don't agree with it but there you go.

We do the opposite here and if you're a scumbag with 70+ convictions(even violent ones) you get off with a suspended sentence because you had a tough upbringing :rolleyes:

padd b1975 · 13-12-2013 07:24PM

up for anything wrote: »

He didn't just kill four people, he also injured two people riding in the back of the pickup truck - one irreparably.

I'm not sure what treatment he could be given that would enable him to overcome all that guilt if he ever comes to feel it. He'll be ****ed up whatever they do with him. If he never accepts responsibility for what he did and why should he with the judge having said that it wasn't his fault but his background's fault then that will make him a nightmare of a different sort.

I somehow doubt that will be the case.

Judging by the defence he put up, I would think he has serious issues as regards what is right and what is wrong, it would not surprise me if the impact of what he has done flies right over his head.

NuckingFacker · 13-12-2013 07:43PM

Kippure wrote: »

Proves yet again there is one law for the rich and one for the poor.

I didn't realise it needed any further proof. Pretty much stands to reason really. Good lawyers cost, and a good lawyer is the difference in how the law regards you.

Too Rich For Prison

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