A 16-year old Texan boy who drove a car into a crowd of pedestrians, killing 4, injuring 9, and leaving one of his passengers with brain damage, got away without prison time.

Ethan Couch pleaded guilty to four counts of manslaughter. According to Gawker, Couch stole alcohol from Walmart together with 7 other boys.

The boys then got on Couch's Ford F-350 and drove 70 miles per hour in a 40 miles per hour zone. As a result, Couch hit four pedestrians June 15 - rendering them dead.

The victims were Brian Jennings, 43, Breanna Mitchell, 24, Shelby Boyles, 21, and her mother, Hollie Boyles, 52. Nine other pedestrians in the area were reportedly injured.

It was found out that Couch had blood alcohol count three times the legal limit. Apart from the 0.24 BAC, the 16-year old was also found to have Valium in his system.

The charges would have had Couch imprisoned for the next 20 years. Instead, District Judge Jean Boyd let out a 10-year probation verdict in light of the affluenza defense Couch's lawyer dished out.

Affluenza is said to be "a condition in which children - generally from richer families - have a sense of entitlement, are irresponsible, make excuses for poor behavior, and sometimes dabble in drugs and alcohol," says psychologist Dr. Gary Buffone in a CBS News report.

He also remarked at the judge's decision saying that the term should not have been used for defense in a criminal trial to justify Couch's behavior.

"Essentially what he has done is slapped this child on the wrist for what is obviously a very serious offense which he would be responsible for in any other situation. The defense is laughable, the disposition is horrifying ... not only haven't the parents set any consequences, but it's being reinforced by the judge's actions."

According to him, the layman's term for affluenza is simply "spoiled brat."

Judge Boyd also decided that a trip to a $450,000-a-year rehabilitation center in California will do Couch best. His parents reportedly have no qualms paying for the fee.

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