Rich kid gets probation for drunk-driving deaths. His defense was that he's rich!

[pokerfan]

The case of a rich Texas teenager who received probation but no jail time after killing four people in a drunk driving car crash in June has sparked a new debate about money, power, and punishment after the teen’s defense team argued he was the victim of “affluenza,” or the failure of his wealthy parents to set boundaries.''

Judge Jean Boyd accepted Ethan Couch’s guilty pleas for killing four people and injuring nine, but the punishment – most likely a lengthy stay at a $1,200-a-day California drug treatment facility – brought widespread outrage because it seemed to suggest that the judge bought the defense theory “that because he has gotten off without serious punishment in the past, he cannot be seriously punished in this case either,” as Jaquielynn Floyd of the Dallas Morning News writes Thursday.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2013/1212/Rich-kid-gets-probation-for-drunk-driving-deaths.-His-defense-Affluenza.-video

[Jackpine Radical]

1. The more I think about this, the crazier I realize it to be.

But I also realize that it's just a part of American life--and that of much of the rest of the world. I could see it happening in Britain, for example. We all know there's a different set of rules for the rich, this case just happens to be a stark demonstration of the fact.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Two points

1.- Afluenza is real, that said the Judge did not help in setting those limits and consequences. But there is actual literature.

2.- We have a name for these kids in Mexico, where the phenomenon also exists. We call them Juniors.

[pokerfan]

3. Well then, I hope he gets the help he needs, (nt)

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It would have helped if the judge threw the book

One case I am familiar with involved the kid of a powerful political figure. Dad was about to buy the judge, a few calls, and kid had his license suspended for a year and had to go see the judge once a week for a year. None was killed, except a wall and a car in that case. Dad was pissed. We were blunt. We told him next time he might have to go ID the body at the morgue. Being rich does not cancel the laws of physics after all.

Three years later dad actually thanked us. Yup, I used connections to get junior charged as if he were an every day shmuck. So it was good to have even better ones. Suffice it to say, this guy was shocked.

His kid, having to swallow his pride and all that learned a lesson. It was a life lesson at that. Why I said, while Afluenza is real, judge did no favors to the kid, or the parents for that matter.

For the record, DUI convictions south of the border are that more serious, when the law is followed. First offenses would make people here wail in anguish.

[pokerfan]

5. But that would be unfair.

Prison? Prison's for poor people.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. In cases like this, I am willing to meet them half way

Five years jail time, five probation. It would shock both the kid and parents. This us on the low end of sentencing. And this is not including the very expensive civil liability.

He had no record until now. On the plus side, this kid still has a record. That is a scarlet letter, as he will have to put that in any job application. Granted, dad is well connected, very well connected, so this might be academic. The fact judge did not, send junior to jail tells me this.

[russspeakeasy]

8. I don't think this kid will be filling out any job applications.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Why I pointed out he is well connected

[russspeakeasy]

7. How much will the civil suit be for ?

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. The burden in civil court is lower

He has been convicted. There will be a suit, or a settlement. You can bet on it. People sue those who have nothing. You think people will not try from people who do?

[russspeakeasy]

11. They would be crazy not to.