Rich Teen gets 10 years probation for drunk driving

[Marianne2]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 5:56pm

Did anyone else hear about this? The whole story is sickening. This kid killed 4 people, plus seriously injured a friend and gets off because he's suffering from "affluenza". Um, sorry, no. I hope this kid feels guilty for the rest of his life. I know I would be.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/12/affluenza-defense-probation-for-deadly-dwi_n_4430807.html

[romantico]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 6:07pm

Yeah, I was pretty much fuming over this story a few days ago. I heard somewhere that while on probation he may not even have to appear. He can just call his probation officer and 'check in'. Gee, life's rough!

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1067410&boardname=off&dt=2&boardid=2

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 6:18pm

I wonder how much that cost. sickening

[Marianne2]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 6:19pm

Oh sorry. I was looking to see if there was a thread, but couldn't find one.

Unbelieveable about not having to appear in court. I went back in February, just to see if I could get an offense on my 1st speeding ticket down a bit. There were a lot of people there for drunk driving offenses and I was really glad to not be those people.

[romantico]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 7:01pm

No problem. As long as people are aware,are outraged, and are talking about it. Everyone is talking about the kid but I really would hate to be the Judge in this case. I would guess they would be looking over their shoulder 24/7.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 7:20pm

Well at least this (detestable) story gave us a great new word: affluenza.

Updated On: 12/14/13 at 07:20 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 8:26pm

Well I feel bad for the kid. He's going to some rehab and his lawyer said he won't even have his xbox while he's there.

[wonkit]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 8:39pm

If "affluenza" is a legally adequate defense (doubtful), they should put his parents in jail in his place. This will be the basis for an appeal as the defense is not (to my knowledge) recognized by any criminal court in the world.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 8:50pm

affluenza isn't new... it's been around for years, it's just that this story has made it very prominent...

i worked in higher education for 10 years and i've worked with many students who suffered from affluenza and it's very frustrating... they feel their money should allow them to get whatever they want even if they break rules and policies.. it's very sad because I've met their parents and it's just as worse and you know where they get it from... sad...

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 9:01pm

Wait, I want to get this straight - He killed four people but because he didn't know that he could face punishment for that, he doesn't get punished?

First of all, there's no way he didn't know what the consequences are for killing, and second of all, I understand that ignorance of the law is no excuse.

This really is disgusting.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 12/13/13 at 11:39pm

It's just unbelievable.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 12/14/13 at 11:55pm

Someone explain to me: if "affluenza" means your wealth precludes you from understanding that your actions have consequences, then how is it significantly different from "psychopathy?"

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/15/13 at 12:26am

They had to have paid off the judge. Don't even try to tell me that this kid didn't know it was not good to kill people.

And now he's off to a $450,000/month resort. Did you see the pictures of it on tv?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 12/16/13 at 1:39pm

Psychopathy is a mental disorder. Affluenza is said to lead to mental disorder, but that has not been proven. "Affluenza" is nothing more than a newly coined term for behavior that is as old as time: that money is power and will absolve you of personal responsibility. If they could prove that this kid truly had a mental disorder where he absolutely had no idea that theft, underage drinking, prescription drug abuse, drinking and driving, and excessive speeding, either separately, much less in succession in one evening, could lead to self-harm or the harm of others, then PERHAPS the judgment could somewhat be justified. But "affluenza" proves nothing other than these people are aware of laws, feel they are above them, and raised their child accordingly. Unless this was the boy's first outing from a life locked in a basement with no contact to the outside world, it's virtually impossible to prove he had no idea what he was doing was wrong, illegal, and potentially dangerous/lethal.

[Jane2]

Posted: 12/16/13 at 1:43pm

Exactly, Matt. And that's why I suspect bribe.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/16/13 at 4:14pm

Hope the families of the victim's suck teen's family dry in civil court.