Texas judge lowers bond for mother of 'affluenza' teen to $75,000

FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan 11 (Reuters) - A Texas judge on Monday slashed the bond required for a mother charged with helping her teenage son flee to Mexico after he was suspected of violating a probation deal that kept him out of prison following a fatal drunk driving crash.

Judge Wayne Salvant cut the bond for Tonya Couch to $75,000 from the previous $1 million in the felony case accusing her of helping her son Ethan leave the country, a crime that can bring up to 10 years in prison.

SEE ALSO: 'Affluenza' mom returns to Texas and booked into jail

The judge also imposed conditions on a release on bond that include being placed on an electronic monitor, drug testing and reporting weekly to authorities.

See photos from the case:

The son was derided for using a defense of "affluenza" in a trial in juvenile court in 2013 where he was charged with four counts of intoxication manslaughter. A psychiatrist testifying on his behalf contended his family's wealth impaired his judgment to tell right from wrong.

The diagnosis, which is not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association, was widely ridiculed.

Lawyers for Tonya Couch said she could not afford the bail and argued it was excessively high for a person charged with a third degree felony.

In arguing that the bail should remain at $1 million, Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Kevin Rousseau said, "She has shown she is willing to violate his probation and is willing to do so in a big way."

More on the 'Affluenza' teen's arrest in Mexico:

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