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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.
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.
