‘Affluenza Teen' Ethan Couch Arrested on Probation Violation

Couch, now 22, violated his probation by testing positive for THC

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Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information about Ethan Couch's release one day after being arrested.

"Affluenza teen" Ethan Couch was behind bars Thursday, accused of violating his parole after testing positive for drugs, according to Tarrant County Sheriff spokesperson David McClelland.

Couch, now 22, violated his probation by testing positive for THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, McClelland said.

“Affluenza teen” Ethan Couch has been booked into Tarrant County Jail, according to Tarrant County Sheriff spokesperson David McClelland.

Court documents did not show a set bond amount.

One day later, Couch was released from jail because probation officials "did not have confidence in the "weak positive " THC test result, the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office said.

In June 2013, the then-16-year-old Couch was driving drunk and under the influence of marijuana and Valium when he slammed into a group of people who had stopped to help a disabled driver along Burleson-Retta Road in southern Tarrant County. In addition to the four killed, nine were injured, several critically.

Couch became known as the "affluenza teen" during his 2013 manslaughter trial when a psychologist told the court that he was affected by "affluenza," or irresponsibility caused by family wealth, The Associated Press reported.

He and his mother, Tonya, fled to Mexico, were arrested in the resort town of Puerto Vallarta and extradited back to Fort Worth. Couch was then sentenced to two years in jail, which he completed in April 2018.

He was ordered to wear an ankle monitor when he was released from prison. A judge allowed him to remove it last March. The monitor tracked his location and any alcohol use.

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