Updated 12:21 PM EDT, Thu, Mar 28, 2024

'Affluenza' Teen Ethan Couch Could Spend More Time in Mexico

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The deportation of Ethan Couch, the 18-year-old "affluenza"-diagnosed teen jailed in Mexico City, may last for a couple of months, his lawyer revealed on Tuesday.

ABC News said Couch's Mexican legal counsel, Fernando Benitez, has estimated that the proceedings to bring back Couch to the United States may take a long time.

The lawyer, who is expected to meet his client on Tuesday, said that he hopes he can get Couch a hearing early next month.

Couch and his mother Tonya, were detained in Mexico on Monday after they fled from the United States, BBC noted.

The teenager was earlier sentenced to a 10-year probation for a drunk-driving incident two years ago, where four people died.

His case was much publicized because his lawyers noted that the wealthy status of the suspect "encouraged a sense of irresponsibility," which was later on termed as "affluenza."

It was noted in the ABC News that this condition, brought on by his wealthy upbringing, has prevented him from knowing what is right from wrong.

A warrant of arrest was earlier issued against Couch after he was not able to report to his probation officer.

According to Yahoo News, Couch and his mother went south when authorities in Tarrant County, Texas started investigating him not being able to report for his probation.

Tonya was reportedly flown to Los Angeles on Wednesday, but left behind Ethan since deportation proceedings of the suspect are still pending.

"We believe that, until the Mexican Federal Judge enters an appropriate order authorizing it, Ethan will not be returned to the United States. We are uncertain how long the legal process in Mexico will take or how it will ultimately be resolved," said Scott Brown and Reagan Wynn, Couch's lawyers in Texas, in the BBC report.

The legal counsels noted that since they are not licensed to practice in Mexico, they helped the family in getting a lawyer who could treat their client fairly.

Benitez, a high-profile Mexican lawyer, said in a Dallas News report that he wants Couch to be treated lawfully.

"My interest is that if they are looking for his extradition to the United States, that it proceeds only according to the constitution and the law," the lawyer was quoted by the same report as saying.

He expressed confidence that he will arrive at great results for this case since he has also represented ex-Tijuana Mayor Jorge Hank Rhon, who was arrested after guns, used in several murders, were found inside his home.

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