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InvisibleDiploidM
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Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder
    #19269647 - 12/13/13 07:34 AM (10 years, 2 months ago)

So this 16 year old white kid from a wealthy family with a history of run-ins with the law, driving without a license, underage drinking, gets smashed and takes off with some friends in a pick-up truck driving at high speed through a residential area. With three times the limit of alcohol in his blood, he plows through a group of pedestrians, killing four of them including a mother and daughter. Two of his passengers are ejected from the truck leaving one paralyzed. Several others were seriously injured. After the accident, the kid fled the scene on foot. Later he was heard yelling "I am Ethan Couch! I'll get out of this!"

At the trial, his lawyers argue that he's a victim of "affluenza". This is the condition of having so much money that you don't know the difference between right and wrong, so he's not responsible. It works. The parents agree to spend a half-million dollars a year for rehab, so the judge sentences him to probation and alcohol treatment at a foofy rehab center where he will ride horses, play tennis, do yoga, and go to the beach while a team of chefs prepare poolside canapes and drinks with umbrellas in them. The judge is being criticized, but she's retiring and doesn't give a fuck.

Meanwhile, that same judge recently heard a case where a black kid  with no family money punched a guy in the face. The guy fell, hit his head on concrete and died. The sentence there? Ten years in lockup.

I'm not making this shit up. I couldn't if I tried.

So, we bail out rich people when they make bad bets and lose. We shore up private corporations like GM when they make shit cars and the market buys something better from Japan. And now we allow the criminal defense of wealthy people with a made-up medical condition and they're sentenced to a spa.

WTF is going on in this country? This shit reads like a history book account of the straw that broke the camel's back and started the revolution. It's a bad day in America.

--

CNN Video

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A North Texas teen from an affluent family was sentenced to probation this week after he killed four pedestrians when he lost control of his speeding pickup truck while driving drunk, a punishment that outraged the victims' families and left prosecutors disappointed.

The 16-year-old boy was sentenced Tuesday in a Fort Worth juvenile court to 10 years of probation after he confessed to intoxication manslaughter in the June 15 crash on a dark rural road.

Prosecutors had sought the maximum 20 years in state custody for the Keller teen, but his attorneys appealed to state District Judge Jean Boyd that the teenager needed rehabilitation not prison, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (http://bit.ly/1f8GnvQ ) reported.

If the boy continues to be cushioned by his family's wealth, another tragedy is inevitable, prosecutor Richard Alpert said in court.

"There can be no doubt that he will be in another courthouse one day blaming the lenient treatment he received here," Alpert said.

Authorities said the teen and friends were seen on surveillance video stealing two cases of beer from a store. He had seven passengers in his Ford F-350, was speeding and had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit, according to testimony during the trial. His pickup truck slammed into the four pedestrians, killing Brian Jennings, a 43-year-old Burleson youth minister; Breanna Mitchell of Lillian, 24; Shelby Boyles, 21; and her 52-year-old mother, Hollie Boyles.

Boyd said the programs available in the Texas juvenile justice system may not provide the kind of intensive therapy the teen could receive at a rehabilitation center near Newport Beach, Calif., that was suggested by his defense attorneys. The parents would pick up the tab for the center, at a cost of more than $450,000 a year for treatment.

Scott Brown, the boy's lead defense attorney, said he could have been freed after two years if he had drawn the 20-year sentence.

But instead, the judge "fashioned a sentence that could have him under the thumb of the justice system for the next 10 years," he told the Star-Telegram.

Relatives of those killed in the accident drew little comfort from that assurance.

Eric Boyles, who lost his wife and daughter, said the family's wealth helped the teen avoid incarceration.

"Money always seems to keep you out of trouble," Boyles said. "Ultimately today, I felt that money did prevail. If you had been any other youth, I feel like the circumstances would have been different."

Shaunna Jennings, the minister's widow, said her family had forgiven the teen but believed a sterner punishment was needed.

"You lived a life of privilege and entitlement, and my prayer is that it does not get you out of this," she said. "My fear is that it will get you out of this."

A psychologist called as an expert defense witness said the boy suffered from "affluenza," growing up in a house where the parents were preoccupied with arguments that led to a divorce.

The father "does not have relationships, he takes hostages," psychologist Gary Miller said, and the mother was indulgent. "Her mantra was that if it feels good, do it," he said.

Huffington Post


--------------------
Republican Values:

1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you.
2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child.
3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer.

4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Diploid]
    #19271094 - 12/13/13 02:39 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

How was this murder?  And how do you figure he got away with it?


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InvisibleDiploidM
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Enlil]
    #19271167 - 12/13/13 02:59 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

I'm using that word as a figure of speech, not literelly. This kid got away DUI manslaughter or something along those lines.


--------------------
Republican Values:

1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you.
2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child.
3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer.

4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Diploid]
    #19271180 - 12/13/13 03:03 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

He also got 10 years probation.  That's almost certain to mean he'll end up doing time down the road.  It's highly unlikely he will stay out of trouble that long.


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Offlinepsyconaught
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Enlil]
    #19271213 - 12/13/13 03:13 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

Enlil said:
He also got 10 years probation.  That's almost certain to mean he'll end up doing time down the road.  It's highly unlikely he will stay out of trouble that long.



however unlikely it is he literally got his sentence reduced for being rich


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: psyconaught]
    #19271248 - 12/13/13 03:20 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

No he didn't.  He got less of a sentence because he was rich.  He didn't get it reduced.

Also, women routinely get probation as a sentence for DUI vehicular manslaughter.


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InvisibleIcelander
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Diploid]
    #19271409 - 12/13/13 03:59 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Hasn't it always been like this? :confused:  It's likely one reason people like weath. You can possibly get away with murder.


--------------------
"Don't believe everything you think". -Anom.

" All that lives was born to die"-Anom.

With much wisdom comes much sorrow,
The more knowledge, the more grief.
Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC


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Offlinepsyconaught
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Icelander]
    #19271463 - 12/13/13 04:12 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

Icelander said:
Hasn't it always been like this? :confused:  It's likely one reason people like weath. You can possibly get away with murder.



unofficially yes its always been like this. But as far as i am aware this is the first time literally nothing but being rich is what reduced the normal sentence.


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OfflineSkydawg
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: psyconaught]
    #19271612 - 12/13/13 04:53 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Ridiculousness, rich boy was never taught right from wrong and was spoiled because parents are rich and didn't have time to parent him properly your honor....oh ok, let's give this poor misunderstood boy probation and send him to a luxury rehab. Sounds legit:thumbdown:


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: psyconaught]
    #19271621 - 12/13/13 04:55 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

there was a bit more to it than just being rich.


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InvisibleDiploidM
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Enlil]
    #19271664 - 12/13/13 05:04 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Maybe so but his yelling "I am Ethan Couch! I'll get out of this!" after the crash is very telling.


--------------------
Republican Values:

1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you.
2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child.
3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer.

4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Diploid]
    #19271683 - 12/13/13 05:09 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

I agree.  It kinda confirms what the expert said about him.

The bottom line is that character evidence and evidence of childhood abuse/neglect have been admissible for sentencing since before this country was founded.  This is nothing new.

Truth be told, people with the advantages that this kid had are often punished more severely because there is no sob story to be told at sentencing. 

Whether his upbringing reduces his culpability or not, I can't say....but the judge bought it.


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Offlinepsyconaught
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Enlil]
    #19271716 - 12/13/13 05:15 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

nothing like a little prison time to give someone a dose of reality and show them responsibility for their actions.


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: psyconaught]
    #19271750 - 12/13/13 05:24 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

psyconaught said:
nothing like a little prison time to give someone a dose of reality and show them responsibility for their actions.



I don't think I agree with that.  Prison rarely leads people to become better citizens.  There is the occasional outlier, of course, but most people leave prison far more antisocial than they went in.


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Offlinepsyconaught
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Enlil]
    #19271776 - 12/13/13 05:30 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

and i doubt a southern california vacation paid for by daddy will really make him a better person either.


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: psyconaught]
    #19271784 - 12/13/13 05:32 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

That's probably true.  10 years of probation certainly might.  Having a PO keeping tabs one a person can be quite an effective rehabilitator.


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OfflineSkydawg
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Enlil]
    #19272144 - 12/13/13 07:28 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

Enlil said:
That's probably true.  10 years of probation certainly might.  Having a PO keeping tabs one a person can be quite an effective rehabilitator.


Sorry but your wrong on this one Rasputin.


Edited by Skydawg (12/13/13 07:29 PM)


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OfflineSeussA
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Skydawg]
    #19272286 - 12/13/13 08:09 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

>  Sorry but your wrong on this one Rasputin.

Perhaps you could enlighten us with some commentary to support your opinion?


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Offlineviktor
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Enlil]
    #19272658 - 12/13/13 09:59 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

Enlil said:
the judge bought it.




I think it was more likely the other way around.


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InvisibleEnlilMDiscord
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Re: Affluenza: The Wealthy Getting Away With Murder [Re: Skydawg]
    #19272807 - 12/13/13 10:42 PM (10 years, 2 months ago)

Quote:

Skydawg said:
Quote:

Enlil said:
That's probably true.  10 years of probation certainly might.  Having a PO keeping tabs one a person can be quite an effective rehabilitator.


Sorry but your wrong on this one Rasputin.



I don't think I am.  Many people do quite well on probation after a few fuckups.  This is particularly true of people who didn't have strong parental guidance as children.  Once probationers learn that the PO isn't going to take any shit from them, many of these people learn to follow the rules.

I think this guy might just learn a lot from probation.

Or he might violate repeatedly and spend years in jail...who knows.


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