Post date: Dec 13, 2013 5:41:9 PM
A teenager from a wealthy family is ordered by a Texas court to serve 10 years probation for killing 4 people while driving drunk.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (NBC) - A teenager who admitted to driving drunk when he crashed his car and killed four people was sentenced to 10 years probation by a Texas court on Tuesday (December 10), outraging the family members of the victims.
Couch lost control of his vehicle last June, killing a woman whose car had broken down on the side of the road, as well as three people who came to her aid.Prosecutors asked for the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for 16-year-old Ethan Couch, but the judge ordered that he serve 10 years probation.
Family members of the victims argued that Couch's wealthy family background kept him from a prison sentence.
"Well, Ethan has had a privileged life," said Eric Boyles who lost his wife and daughter in the accident. "Money has always been there and money always seems to keep Ethan out of trouble. This was one time I did ask the court for justice and for money not to prevail. And ultimately today I felt like money did prevail today."
Couch's defense attorneys argued that he needs rehabilitation and a "chance to develop into a productive citizen."
"There's nothing the judge could have done that's going to lessen the suffering for any of those families," said attorney Scott Brown. "If we could do that, we would. But we applaud Judge Boyd for having the courage to issue this sentence that's going to give Ethan Couch a chance to develop into a productive citizen and try to make amends for his actions."