Wealthy sixteen year old teen spared jail after killing four people

Affluenza? Seems like a huge teaching moment just slipped by.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families. An unimaginable tragedy compounded by no justice.

This just leaves me scratching my head for the other side of the story. When things are so irrational, there has to be something, but I just can't think of it. It's one thing to be wealthy and hire an expensive attorney, but to actually go in front of a jury of peers to say, "Sorry, forgive me for being rich" just seems too flagrant and irrational.

Anyone have more backdrop on the story?

"Defense attorneys said the boy suffered from 'affluenza' and blamed the boy's parents, saying they gave him everything he wanted and didn't teach him about consequences."

Which should have been an argument that he needed a life lesson. Even a short custodial sentence would have done that. Now he's learned that his wealth can buy him out of anything.

The key word in the title is "teen", not "wealthy". Light sentences are common in the juvenile court system.