'Affluenza teen' Ethan Couch, who killed four people in crash, released after serving two years

Todd Unger | WFAA-TV, Dallas-Fort Worth

Show Caption Hide Caption 'Affluenza teen' Ethan Couch expected to be released from jail Affluenza teen Ethan Couch set for release. Elizabeth Keatinge (@elizkeatinge) has more.

FORT WORTH, Texas --- The Texas man known for his "affluenza" defense when he was given probation for killing four people in a 2013 drunken-driving crash was released on Monday after serving two years for violating his probation.

Ethan Couch, who is now 20, has almost fulfilled a 720-day sentence for violating his original probation. He was convicted of killing four people in a drunken driving accident in 2013 when he plowed a pickup truck into a group of good Samaritans helping a stranded driver.

A psychologist testifying for the defense suggested Ethan suffered from "affluenza," a term supposedly meant to indicate that because of a wealthy, affluent upbringing devoid of consequences, he wasn't capable of knowing right from wrong, or fully accepting responsibility.

Juvenile Judge Jean Boyd eventually sentenced Couch to rehab and 10 years of probation.

"As far as any other cases I've dealt with, he's in a class by himself," said Richard Alpert, a former DWI prosecutor in Tarrant County who went up against Couch in juvenile court.

Ethan's release comes just days after his mother, Tonya, was arrested Wednesday when her bond was revoked. Court documents say she failed a urine analysis test for drugs.

The 50-year-old was out on bond after allegedly helping her son flee to Mexico in late 2015, when the then-teen was in jeopardy of violating his own probation after a Twitter video of him at a beer pong party went viral.