Texas Teen Ethan Couch May Get Three Years in Prison, Despite "Affluenza" Defense; Parents Named in Lawsuits

By Lauren Leigh Noske
Ethan Couch
Ethan Couch

Five civil lawsuits have been filed against Ethan Couch for the accident he caused in June which resulted in four strangers' deaths and severe injuries to some of his friends. The sixteen-year-old avoided jail time for charges of intoxication manslaughter - perhaps due to the defense's argument that he suffered from "affluenza" - but could potentially be faced with three years of juvenile detention for the two counts of intoxicated assault that he plead guilty to during his trial.

Judge Jean Boyd recently sentenced Ethan Couch to ten years of probation, where Ethan will likely spend time in a Californian rehabilitation center, for killing four people who were helping to fix a flat tire. According to Radar Online, Couch had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit and also tested positive for Valium after the crash. The teen had been drinking and driving with seven of his friends in his father's company vehicle, and had reportedly been charged with a Minor in Possession and for excessive speeding in the past. Couch's parents, along with the family business whose F-350 truck Ethan was driving that night, are being named in the lawsuits.

Couch plead guilty to the intoxication manslaughter of youth pastor Brian Jennings, mother and daughter Hollie and Shelby Boyles, and 24-year-old Brianna Mitchell. He also plead guilty to two counts of intoxication assault against two of his teenage friends who were severely injured during the crash. One fifteen-year-old boy who was in the bed of Couch's pick-up truck can no longer speak or move because of the trauma he sustained to his brain. The teen could potentially face three years in a juvenile detention center for intoxication assault charges.

Judge Boyd may be presiding over the case for Ethan's intoxication assault charges as well. The three families who have lost their loved ones, along with numerous other Americans, are in disbelief over the sentence that Judge Boyd had given the teen for manslaughter. Others say that the sentence was appropriate, as the goal of the United States juvenile justice system should be to correct bad behavior. Hopefully the judge presiding over Ethan's second case will be able to make an objective ruling, despite the enormous controversy that has erupted over the young man's probation.

  • ‘Wang Mingdao’s Diary’ reproduction highlights complexities of contemporary Chinese Christianity

    On December 9, the China Graduate School of Theology (中国神学研究院) hosted a public lecture titled “A Courageous Witness in the Times—Launch of Wang Mingdao (王明道)’s Diary.” The lecture, themed “Faith Patterns in Beijing’s Christian Churches Through the Lens of Wang Mingdao’s Diary,” featured Dr. Ni Buxiao (倪步晓), Associate Director and Assistant Professor at the Christian Faith and Chinese Culture Research Center of Alliance Bible Seminary (建道神学院), as the keynote speaker.

  • Floating library ‘Doulos Hope’ arrives in Taiwan; spreading love and hope from a former cruise ship

    Doulos Hope, the international floating book fair ship, has returned to Taiwan and is now docked at Kaohsiung Port, open to the public from December 18, 2024, to January 12, 2025. Originally built in 1991 and renovated in 2022, the ship features over 2,000 books on various topics, including faith, science, and art. It is operated by a diverse crew of 140 volunteers from 25 countries, offering services such as education, healthcare, and community outreach. The ship's mission is to spread hope and

  • Chinese Online School of Theology publishes annual ministry report: Expanding Chinese theological education through new strategies

    In the 2023-2024 academic year, New York-based Chinese Online School of Theology (COST) has seen significant development in expanding its ministry in theological education and mission outreach. They have promoted a series of new events and projects to explore different strategies that expand theological education for Chinese ministers. The following are some highlights from the 2023-2024 annual report:

  • Dr. Fenggang Yang: How foreign forces transformed traditional Chinese legal systems

    In a recent lecture to Chinese Christians, scholar Dr. Fenggang Yang (杨凤岗) gave an in-depth analysis of the historical evolution and contemporary significance of the modern legal system in Chinese society. He explored the tensions and integrations between traditional law and modern rule of law, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of China’s traditional legal system and emphasizing the role of foreign influences in introducing modern legal practices into Chinese society.