Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/621780
ByChristopherWeber The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Themother of a fugitive Texas teen known for using an "af- fluenza" defense in a fa- tal drunken-driving acci- dent is jailed in Los Ange- les on Thursday after being deported from Mexico, po- lice said. An LAPD fugitive task forcepickedupTonyaCouch shortly after 1:30 a.m. at Los Angeles International Air- portandtookhertotheMet- ropolitan Detention Center, according to Officer Norma Eisenman. Her 18-year-old son, Ethan Couch, remains in a Mexican jail. She will be held at the downtown jail until U.S. marshals take her to Texas, where she and her son live and where he was on pro- bation for the 2013 crash, Eisenman said. The police spokeswoman didn't know why Couch came through Los Angeles or when she would be transported. U.S. Marshals Service spokesman Eugene Hwang said he could not reveal details about Couch's trip through California or say how long she might be there, citing security con- cerns in transporting some- one in custody. Authorities believe Ethan Couch, who was sentenced only to probation for the wreck that killed four peo- ple, fled to Mexico with his mother in November as prosecutors investigated whether he had violated his probation. Both were taken into custody Mon- day after authorities said a phone call for pizza led to their capture in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta. A Mexican court delayed Ethan Couch's deporta- tion Wednesday, giving a judge three days to decide whether he has grounds to challenge his deportation based on arguments that kicking him out of the coun- try would violate his rights. But the injunction did not apply to Tonya Couch, who was deported immedi- ately, according to an offi- cial with Mexico's National Immigration Institute, who was not authorized to dis- cuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity. U.S. marshals took her in handcuffs through an LAX terminal to an unmarked car. She was wearing blue street clothes and looked away from cameras as she walked. Authorities in Texas said they were issuing an arrest warrant for her on charges of hindering an apprehen- sion, a third-degree felony that carries a sentence of two to 10 years in prison. Meanwhile, her son's in- junction will likely take at least two weeks to re- solve, said Richard Hunter, chief deputy for the U.S. Marshals Service in South Texas. The legal maneuver ba- sically takes the deporta- tion decision out of an im- migration agent's hands and asks a higher author- ity to make it, Hunter said Wednesday at a news con- ference in Houston. Such cases can often take up to several months, depending on the priorities of the local courts, he said. "It also depends on the fact the Couches have legal counsel. And it seems to me, if they wanted to, they could pay them as much money as they want to drag this thing out," Hunter said. "We're hopeful that's not the case." Ethan Couch was trans- ported late Wednesday from a detention facility in Guadalajara to one in Mex- ico City, the Mexican official said. Couch was moved be- cause the Mexico City facil- ity for detaining migrants is larger and better equipped to hold someone for days or weeks. His attorneys in the U.S. said in a statement Wednes- day that they couldn't com- ment on the case because they weren't licensed to practice law in Mexico. It wasn't immediately clear which attorneys were han- dling the case in Mexico. Ethan Couch was driving drunk and speeding near Fort Worth in June 2013 when he crashed into a dis- abled SUV, killing four peo- ple and injuring several oth- ers, including passengers in his pickup truck. During the sentencing phase of his trial, a de- fense expert argued that his wealthy parents cod- dled him into a sense of ir- responsibility — a condi- tion the expert termed "af- fluenza." The condition is not recognized as a medi- cal diagnosis by the Ameri- can Psychiatric Association, and its invocation during the legal proceedings drew ridicule. "Couch continues to make a mockery of the sys- tem," said Fort Worth at- torney Bill Berenson, who represented Sergio Molina. Molina was paralyzed and suffered severe brain dam- age in the crash. Couch pleaded guilty to four counts of intoxica- tion manslaughter and two counts of intoxication as- sault causing serious bodily injury. A judge sentenced him in juvenile court to 10 years' probation and a stint in a rehabilitation center. He and his mother were tracked by a phone to a condominium complex in Puerto Vallarta's old town when it was used to order delivery from Domino's Pizza, according to a police report issued by the Jalisco state prosecutors' office. DEPORTED FROM MEXICO Motherof'affluenza'teenisjailedinLosAngeles MARKJ.TERRILL—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Tonya Couch, center, is taken by authorities to a waiting car a er arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday. LITHIACHEVROLET OF REDDING ECY PRESS AVE HARTNELL AVE BECHELLI LN 5 H E M S T E D D R i STORE HOURS: MON-SAT 8:00am–8:00pm | SUN 10:00am–6:00pm Call us at [530] 223-1132 SHOP: LITHIACHEVROLETREDDING.COM *DownPaymentAssist:MustfinancewithWellsFargo,AllyorGMFinancial,onapprovedcredit. ¥ Trade Assistance:Must trade a 1999 or newer Chevy car or truck. Plus government fees and taxes, any finance charges, $80 dealer document processing charge, any electronic filing charge and any emission testing charge. All ad prices are for in stock vehicles only. See dealer for limited warranty details. Expires 01/04/16. LITHIA CHEVROLET OF REDDING 200 East Cypress Avenue [Entrance off Hemsted] SeHabla Español! NEW2015CHEVY CITY EXPRESS CARGO VAN BLUETOOTH, CRUISE, REAR PARK ASSIST $ 19 , 470 NETCOST TO YOU ONLY1INSTOCKATTHISPRICE!2MOREINSTOCK! ONLY1INSTOCKATTHISPRICE!2MOREINSTOCK! MSRP..............................$23,970 Y.E.S. DISCOUNT.............. -$1,000 LITHIAPRICE..............$22,970 FACTORY REBATE ............ -$1,500 Y.E.S. BONUS TAG............ -$2,000 $ 4,500! YOU SAVE #FK722009 -Designer White NEW 2015 CHEVY SPARK HATCH LS AUTO TRANSMISSION $ 11 , 905 NET COST TO YOU 3INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! 3INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! MSRP..............................$14,405 Y.E.S. DISCOUNT.............. -$1,000 LITHIA PRICE ..............$13,405 Y.E.S. BONUS CASH ............ -$500 Y.E.S. SUPER BONUS TAG .. -$1,000 $ 2,500! YOU SAVE #FC803013, #FC807609 - Salsa Red #FC809204 - Summit White .$14,405 . -$1,000 $13,405 .... -$500 . -$1,000 00! NEW 2016 CHEVY SONIC LT SEDAN REAR VISION CAMERA, 4G LTE WI-FI $ 16 , 775 NET COST TO YOU 3INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! 3INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! MSRP..............................$18,775 Y.E.S. DISCOUNT................. -$500 LITHIA PRICE ..............$18,275 FACTORY REBATE ............... -$500 Y.E.S. BONUS TAG............ -$1,000 $ 2,000! YOU SAVE #G422308, #G4124190 - Summit white #G4122530 - Silver Ice NEW 2015 CHEVY SIL VER ADO 250 0 L TZ 4X 4, DU RA MA X, NICELY EQUIPPED! $ 53 , 812 NET COST TO YOU ONLY1INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! ONLY1INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! MSRP..............................$63,310 Y.E.S. DISCOUNT.............. -$3,998 LITHIA PRICE ..............$59,312 Y.E.S. REBATE ................. -$2,000 PAYMENT ASSIST* ........... -$1,000 Y.E.S. BONUS TAG............ -$2,500 $ 9,498! YOU SAVE #FF579170 - Deep Ocean Blue NEW 2016 CHEVY SIL VER ADO 1500 LT 4X4, CREW CAB, REMOTE START $ 39 , 964 NET COST TO YOU ONLY2INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! ONLY2INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! MSRP..............................$46,510 Y.E.S. DISCOUNT.............. -$3,046 LITHIA PRICE ..............$43,464 FACTORY REBATE ............ -$1,000 Y.E.S. BONUS TAG............ -$2,500 $ 6,546! YOU SAVE #GG147374 - Slate Grey #GG147357 - Tungsten N S 4 N # # NEW2015CHEVY SI LV ERADO 1500 LT DBLCAB,LEATHER,5.3LV8 $ 32 , 299 NET COST TO YOU #FZ301307 - Deep Ruby #FZ300986 - Slate Grey MSRP..............................$41,885 Y.E.S. DISCOUNT.............. -$2,336 LITHIA PRICE ..............$39,549 Y.E.S. REBATE ................. -$1,500 Y.E.S. BONUS TAG............ -$2,500 ALLSTAR BONUS.............. -$1,000 Y.E.S. BONUS CASH ............ -$750 PAYMENT ASSIST* .............. -$500 Y.E.S. SUPER BONUS TAG .. -$1,000 $ 9,5 86 ! SAVE UPTO ONLY2INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! ONLY2INSTOCKATTHISPRICE! '13TOYOTACOROLLALE SteeringWheelControls #DP137310 $ 12,997 '13 CHEVY MALIBU ECO Back-Up Camera, Remote Start #DF319735A $ 13,995 '13 FORD ESCAPE SE Turbo Charged, Satellite Radio #DUC26156 $ 12,997 '11 KIA OPTIMA EX Leather Seats, Keyless Start #B5108201 $ 15,997 '15 HONDA FIT LX Back-Up Camera, Bluetooth #FM748166 $ 16,497 '07 CHEVY SUBURBAN LT 3rd Row Seat, Leather #7G169416 $ 16,997 '07 CHEVY SUBURBAN LTZ 4WD, Heated Leather Seats #7J299694 $ 16,997 '07 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 LS, 4x4 #71179523B $ 11,997 '10 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4WD, Prior Rental #AUA14503R $ 11,497 '13 CHEVROLET SPARK 1LT Bluetooth, Alloys, Keyless Entry #DC567359C $ 9,997 '07 CHEVY IMPALA LS A Quiet Cabin and Soft Ride #79124390A $ 6,997 '04 CHEVY TAHOE LS 4x4, Tow Hitch, Running Boards #4J260009 $ 8,997 '09 CHEVROLET HHR LT Low Miles, Privacy Glass #9S540949 $ 8,997 '10 DODGE CHARGER SXT Prior Rental, 3.5L HO V6 #AH243358R $ 9,997 '14 NISSAN MURANO S Prior Rental, Privacy Glass #EW408494R $ 19,997 '09 CHEVY SILVERADO 1500, 5.3L Engine #9G205541 $ 19,997 '14 CHEVY EQUINOX LT Chevy Certified, Low Miles #E6215341C $ 19,997 '15 CHEVY EQUINOX LTZ Chevy Certified, Heated Seats #F6243164C $ 27,997 '12 NISSAN FRONTIER SV 4X4, Alloys, Low Miles #CC462925 $ 24,997 '14 RAM 1500 SLT 4X4 Prior Rental, Outdoorsman #ES421769R $ 29,997 '09 CHEVY CORVETTE Z06 Coupe w/2LZ, Heated Seats #95105665 $ 46,997 EVY Established2010 CometoFirehouseforthe BEST PIZZA in Tehama County 734MainStreet 9 CRAFT BEERS ON TAP 11am-9pm Mon.-Thur. 11am - 10pm Fri. & Sat. • 11am-8pm Sun. 530-690-2477 Established2011 Wood-Gas-Pellet Sales - Service - Installation Michael Plank STOVE JUNCTION The The North State's premier supplier of stoves 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com Over 25 years of experience Tues-Sat 9am-5pm • Closed Sun & Mon Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties Now Carrying! Green Mountain Pellet Grills BBQ's, Smokers & Accessories Established 2012 Wemake YOU our first priority Yoursatisfactionisatthetopofourlistofgoals. This is why our RAM, Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler dealership is here to serve Red Bluff and surrounding cities 530-366-3166 www.redbluffdodge.com 545 Adobe Rd., Red Bluff, CA | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM FRIDAY, JANUARY 1, 2016 4 B