‘Affluenza’ Teen’s Mum Paid His Strip Club Bills While Hiding Out In Mexico

Earlier this week, Texas teen Ethan Couch, who infamously used the ‘affluenza’ defence to escape jail time after killing four people while driving drunk, was apprehended in Mexico. 

18-year-old Ethan and his mother Tonya Couch went on the run earlier this month after a video surfaced that showed him apparently participating in a game of beer pong, which would violate the conditions of his probation.

It has since emerged that Couch and his mother were tracked to the holiday town of Puerto Vallarta after using a phone to order Domino’s Pizza while in hiding; the phone was tracked, and the U.S Marshals Service quickly told authorities of its location.

Further details have come to light about Couch’s time in Mexico, including an incident in which he ran up too big a tab at a strip club and was unable to pay, forcing his mother to foot the bill.

An employee at the hotel where the Couches were staying told the Dallas Morning News that the teen was marched to the lobby one evening flanked by a pair of gentlemen demanding cash.

“He didn’t have enough money to pay the bar bill, and his mother had to bail him out,” the employee said.

Couch and his mother reportedly refused to show photo ID when checking in to the hotel, and paid $80 cash per night for the nine evenings of their stay. Hotel workers claim to have discovered a large-caliber revolver in their room.

Tonya Couch has returned to the U.S. and faces charges of hindering the apprehension of a felon, with bail set at $1 million. On Wednesday this week, Ethan won a three-day injunction to stay in Mexico, and he is currently in immigration detention.

Texas officials are hoping that his case will be transferred to an adult court upon his return to America, so he will face greater penalties for violating his parole.

Couch killed four people when driving drunk at the age of 16, and was freed on 10 years’ probation when his lawyers argued that his wealthy, privileged upbringing left him unable to understand the consequences of his actions.