×

National

‘Affluenza’ teen’s mom to

remain jailed pending trial

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — A judge has denied bond for the mother of a Texas teenager who used an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck.

Tonya Couch will now await her trial on money laundering and hindering apprehension charges in the Tarrant County Jail. Her trial is now set for Nov. 12.

State District Judge Wane Salvant’s order came at a Monday bond reduction hearing in Fort Worth. Salvant had revoked Couch’s bond for a second time and ordered her arrest June 7 after a drug-testing lab reported she had tested positive for methamphetamine.

Couch was charged in 2016 after she fled with son Ethan to Mexico in 2015. Ethan Couch was released on probation last March.

A psychologist at trial blamed “affluenza,” or acting irresponsibly due to wealth, for Ethan’s actions in a 2013 North Texas wreck that killed four people.

MeToo activist Argento settled

sex assault complaint

NEW YORK (AP) — Italian actress Asia Argento — one of the most prominent activists of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment — recently settled a complaint filed against her by a young actor and musician who said she sexually assaulted him when he was 17, the New York Times reported.

Argento, 42, settled the notice of intent to sue filed by Jimmy Bennett, who is now 22, for $380,000 shortly after she said last October that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein raped her, the Times reported.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s Capt. Darren Harris said in a statement Monday that no police report was filed at the time, but after the Times report department investigators will seek to talk to Bennett or his representatives about the alleged incident.

Argento and Bennett co-starred in a 2004 film called “The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things” in which Argento played Bennett’s prostitute mother.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper?
   

Starting at $4.38/week.

Subscribe Today