“Affluenza” mom released from jail

“Affluenza” mom released from jail

The mother of the affluenza teen was released Thursday Jan 14 after a judge reduced her $1 million bond for helping her son hide in in Mexico.

Tonya Couch’s son, Ethan Couch made news in 2013 when he, with a blood content level three times over the legal limit, caused a car accident resulting in the death of four people at age 16. His defense? He was said to have been “a product of affluenza”.

“Affluenza” being a term used by a psychiatrist called as a witness during the trial that interprets Ethan’s behavior as a product of irresponsible parenting that “‘strongly enabled’ the accident” however is a condition not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.

He was sentenced to 10 years of probation.

Tonya Couch fled the U.S. to Mexico last November after her son, Ethan Couch, was being investigated for violating his probation and were arrested in Puerto Vallarta. She is facing up to 10 year in jail for hindering the apprehension of a felon while her son is fighting deportation in Mexico .

A judge reduced Couch’s bail from $1 million to $75,000 Monday Jan 12. According to a tweet posted that night by Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson, the mother posted the bond.

She is ordered to wear a gps bracelet around her ankle, be under 24-hour home confinement, check in weekly, stay in Tarrant County with her 29-year-old.