ABC News February 19, 2016

‘Affluenza’ Teen’s Case Moved to Adult Court System After Hearing

WATCH: 'Affluenza' Teen's Case Moved to Adult Court System After Hearing

The teen who was put on probation after killing four people in a drunken- driving accident will now continue his probation through the adult court system, following a hearing in Texas this morning.

Ethan Couch allegedly violated the terms of his probation from the drunken-driving case by missing a court-mandated check-in before he and his mother were apprehended in Mexico in late-December.

'Affluenza' Teen Ethan Couch Moved to Adult Jail in Texas, Records Show 'Affluenza' Teen Ethan Couch Will 'Successfully Complete' Probation, Lawyers Say

Couch had a hearing in juvenile court today and a judge transferred his case to the Tarrant County District Court, which handles adult cases, to complete his 10-year probation.

The 18-year-old will remain in an adult jail in Fort Worth until his 19th birthday on April 11. He will then have another hearing when a district judge will set conditions for the remainder of his adult probation.

Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office
This photograph released by the Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office shows American teen Ethan Couch, who was detained in Mexico on December 28, 2015. He was convicted in 2013 of four counts of intoxication manslaughter after a drunk driving accident but avoided jail.

If he violates probation as an adult, the possible penalty is higher than any probation violations as a juvenile.

The teen was initially put on probation in 2013 after killing four people while driving drunk at the age of 16.

During Ethan's sentencing in the drunken-driving trial, a psychologist hired by the defense testified that the teen was a product of "affluenza" -- a term he used to describe Ethan's irresponsible lifestyle associated with his affluent upbringing.

Get real-time updates as this story unfolds. To start, just "star" this story in ABC News' phone app. Download ABC News for iPhone here or ABC News for Android here.