Court struggles to cope with deaf suspect who doesn't understand English

Miss-Delectable · 02-09-2007, 09:10 AM

The Daily Item - Court struggles to cope with deaf suspect who doesn't understand English

A West Milton man’s federal court appearance was cancelled last week after officials couldn’t get the suspect — who communicates in Spanish and claims to be deaf and unable to speak — to understand questions from the judge.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Malachy E. Mannion tried unsuccessfully last week to arraign Reinaldo Santiago Padilla, 34, of West Milton, on charges that allege Mr. Padilla was part of a drug distribution ring.

Judge Mannion postponed the hearing, rather than entering a not guilty plea on Mr. Padilla’s behalf, after neither a Spanish interpreter nor a friend using self-taught sign language could get Mr. Padilla to understand questions.

It might take a team of people who sign in Spanish, speak Spanish and sign in English, to resolve the problem, said Thomas Miller, clerk in the Middle District’s Williamsport office.
The others indicted, several of whom also needed an interpreter, entered not guilty pleas Tuesday.

Mr. Padilla and 14 others were indicted last month on charges that allege they distributed cocaine, heroin and marijuana in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Snyder counties over three years beginning in January 2004. Last week’s arraignment was on a superseding indictment that adds allegations to the earlier indictment.

During his initial arraignment, Mr. Padilla was fitted with two hearing aids that enabled him to communicate well enough to enter a not guilty plea. But last week, despite wearing the hearing aids and help from the interpreter, Mr. Padilla indicated he could not understand what he was being asked concerning the superseding indictment.

shel90 · 02-09-2007, 08:16 PM

Wow! What a tough situation!

Or...cud he be faking it? What do u think?

***VamPyroX*** · 02-10-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

Wow! What a tough situation!

Or...cud he be faking it? What do u think?

Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing too.

02-09-2007, 09:10 AM	#1 (permalink)
Miss-Delectable Capt Tony Nelson, Jeannie Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: No.1 Shopping Capital in Australia Posts: 10,238 Blog Entries: 3	Court struggles to cope with deaf suspect who doesn't understand English The Daily Item - Court struggles to cope with deaf suspect who doesn't understand English A West Milton man’s federal court appearance was cancelled last week after officials couldn’t get the suspect — who communicates in Spanish and claims to be deaf and unable to speak — to understand questions from the judge. U.S. Magistrate Judge Malachy E. Mannion tried unsuccessfully last week to arraign Reinaldo Santiago Padilla, 34, of West Milton, on charges that allege Mr. Padilla was part of a drug distribution ring. Judge Mannion postponed the hearing, rather than entering a not guilty plea on Mr. Padilla’s behalf, after neither a Spanish interpreter nor a friend using self-taught sign language could get Mr. Padilla to understand questions. It might take a team of people who sign in Spanish, speak Spanish and sign in English, to resolve the problem, said Thomas Miller, clerk in the Middle District’s Williamsport office. The others indicted, several of whom also needed an interpreter, entered not guilty pleas Tuesday. Mr. Padilla and 14 others were indicted last month on charges that allege they distributed cocaine, heroin and marijuana in Columbia, Montour, Northumberland and Snyder counties over three years beginning in January 2004. Last week’s arraignment was on a superseding indictment that adds allegations to the earlier indictment. During his initial arraignment, Mr. Padilla was fitted with two hearing aids that enabled him to communicate well enough to enter a not guilty plea. But last week, despite wearing the hearing aids and help from the interpreter, Mr. Padilla indicated he could not understand what he was being asked concerning the superseding indictment. __________________

02-09-2007, 08:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
shel90 In a pink and black world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the land of the free Posts: 24,081 Blog Entries: 3	Wow! What a tough situation! Or...cud he be faking it? What do u think? __________________ Shel~ "A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

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