INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Ethan And Tonya Couch Fight Extradition From Mexico In ‘Affluenza’ Case

By Amy Feinstein
Published on: 07:55 PST, Dec 30, 2015

For everyone who thought it would be over for affluenza teen Ethan and Tonya Couch, there is yet another obstacle keeping them from being brought to justice in Texas. Ethan and Tonya Couch have decided to fight extradition from Mexico to Texas. Authorities say it is unlikely that the Mexican government will comply with this request, and it is likely delaying the inevitable.

According to the Inquisitr, Ethan and Tonya Couch had planned their escape all along, throwing a going away party before eluding police and going on the run. Affluenza teen Ethan Couch had a hearing for a probation violation in his vehicular manslaughter case, and rather than attend, Ethan and Tonya Couch decided to go on the run to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

WFAA is reporting that Ethan Couch has won a temporary stay against deportation. There is no word on a stay for Tonya Couch. Both are currently being held in a Guadalajara jail, according to a U.S. police source.

“Couch’s lawyers have been notified. The stay of deportation will go to a judge next. If he or she decides to ratify the injunction, Couch may be allowed to stay in Mexico for weeks or even months. There isn’t any indication yet that Tonya Couch won’t be returning to Texas.”

The Daily Mail says it could be months before Ethan and Tonya Couch are returned to Texas. It seems that controversy seems to follow Ethan and Tonya Couch, and Sheriff Dee Anderson of Tarrant County Texas isn’t happy.

Ethan Couch was caught on video in a local butcher shop, and was finally taken down after ordering a pizza delivery. A local travel agent had made arrangements for an $80-a-month condo after an employee at the luxury hotel where they were staying tipped off authorities.

The original plan was for Ethan and Tonya Couch to be sent back to Texas today, as there was no room on the flights before now. Richard Ariel Vera of Mexico’s immigration institute insists the Couch family will be returned to Texas.

“They are going to be sent back to their country, given that they were in Mexico improperly,” said Vera.

It seems that Tonya Couch drove over the border, and was not required to show identification.

The Fort Worth Star Telegram said that Ethan Couch has won a three-day stay against deportation. The U.S. Marshals say they cannot pick up Ethan and Tonya Couch until the legal issues are worked out.

“Couch and his mother cannot be deported from Mexico until legal matters are resolved,” U.S. Marshal’s Service spokeswoman Laura Vega told the Star-Telegram. “We simply do not know when Ethan and Tonya Couch will be returned to the U.S.”

Sheriff Dee Anderson says he isn’t surprised at the delay by the affluenza teen. They continue to use their access to large amounts of money to get away with things that others would not be able to avoid.

“They’re trying to fight being brought back somehow,” Anderson said. “It’s just a continuing string of what we’ve seen all along. We’re patient people. We’ll be waiting.”

The Couches say that the Mexican authorities are violating their rights by working with U.S. authorities, according to Dallas attorney Peter Schulte.

“They think their rights protected by the Mexican courts are being violated,” Schulte said. Schulte said writs of amparo are “very rare,” and used mostly in Latin American countries as ways of protecting individuals’ rights.

Do you think Ethan and Tonya Couch are once again buying special treatment? Is this why they went to Mexico and not Canada?

[Photo by U.S. Marshals/AP]

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