Taxpayers picked up most of the tab for 'Affluenza teen' Ethan Couch's rehab

Ethan Couch is appearing in adult court this week
(Image credit: Twitter/@startelegram)

Ethan Couch, then 16, avoided a jail sentence for killing four people in Texas with his truck because a judge agreed that he was so spoiled by his wealthy parents he didn't know it was wrong to drink and drive — a condition a psychologist in court called "affluenza." But on Tuesday, a day before Couch appears in court to likely hear the terms of his adult probation, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Couch's parents were deemed "financially unable to pay" for most of Couch's court-ordered rehabilitation treatment, so taxpayers footed more than $150,000 of the $200,000 bill.

The purpose of Wednesday's appearance before State District Judge Wayne Salvant is unknown, because Salvant slapped a gag order on the case, but it is expected Couch will hear whether he will spend up to the next 120 days in jail. After a possible four months in jail, Couch is expected to serve the rest of his 10 years' probation outside of prison. If he is found to violate his probation, he could get up to 10 years in jail for each of the four people he killed.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.