Anatole France once wrote, “The law in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal bread.” If he were alive today, he would have to add “unless you are suffering from Affluenza.”
On June 15, 2013 Ethan Crouch, age sixteen, driving on a restricted license, stole a case of beer and went joy-riding with three friends. He hit four pedestrians who were killed and his passengers were left paralyzed and with brain injuries. He was charged with four counts of vehicular manslaughter and other charges. His very wealthy parents hired a metal health expert who testified that Crouch should be spared prison because he was suffering from “Affluenza.”
He testified that “Affluenza” made Crouch “unable to link his bad behavior with consequences because of his parents teaching him that wealth buys privilege.” To the astonishment of everyone, the judge apparently found this opinion credible and in December 2014 sentenced Crouch to ten years’ probation with conditions requiring that he not drink alcohol or drive.
In early December of 2015, Crouch’s “affluenza” was apparently unabated because he appeared in a video on Twitter participating in a drinking game. Crouch’s mother apparently suffering from her own case of “affluenza,” because, rather than have her son face the consequences of his probation violation, fled with him to Mexico where they were captured on December 28, 2015.
It seems that there is only one way Crouch will be cured of this wretched condition. He needs to learn the consequences of his bad behavior by pondering it for a long time in a jail cell. His mother could benefit from this treatment too.
4 thoughts on “Pray That It Doesn’t Become A Plague”
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Joe, I totally agree. This kid may have been salvageable, even after his tragic failure of judgment, if given a real sentence, but giving him a total pass sent only one message–the rules do not apply to you. It appears that when (if) the kid comes back to Texas, he will be sentenced to no more than 4 months in jail. You have to hope that that when he returns he is treated as an adult. His sentence will be no more than 120 days, but his probation will continue for 10 years, and if he violates again, he will spend a long time in a place where affluenza is not recognized as an illness.
I think you’re right on the mark. The outrage over the original sentence was eclipsed by the anger over his apparent violation and flight. I think his case will be transferred to adult court and his probation extended. Another violation could expose him to a twenty year sentence as an adult. Now there is a real incentive to deal with your affluenza. I also think that if they can show his mother actually threw a going-away party for him just before they fled, she’ll be looking at some serious time too. She’s exposed to five years for the flight.
I do hope the “affluenza” decision is to charge him as an adult & give him 20 years in prison with the big boys who’ll teach him a bit more about life ~ especially on the real streets of America!
If I were “Queen” I’d decree he and mom take care of the unfortunate young passengers both financially & physically so they’d understand the magnitude of rich boy’s carelessness! I told my teenage son there were many things worse than death and the aftermath for the injured survivors is exactly what I meant.
Luckily, this defense will no longer be effective, and will go the way of the “Twinkies” defense. If anyone tried it now, it would be a straight path to conviction, with a sentence of hanging. As for this defendant, he will get the four months as a juvenile, but he has now become infamous. As for the original sentence, that judge will become Ito- famous for fifteen minutes as the judge who let Simpson get off.