Torres v. United States

Summary

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals affirmed Carlos Torres's convictions for unauthorized use of a vehicle and receiving stolen property. The court held that Torres was not a "non-English speaking person" entitled to an interpreter under the D.C. Interpreter Act because the evidence supported the trial court's finding that he could communicate effectively in spoken English. Accordingly, the court upheld the denial of his motion to suppress statements made during custodial questioning.

Holdings

1. Torres did not qualify as a non-English-speaking person because the evidence credited by the trial court established that he could understand English and communicate effectively in spoken English.
2. The trial court properly denied the motion to suppress because the Interpreter Act did not apply to Torres; therefore, the police were not required to secure an interpreter before questioning him.

Questions Presented

1. Whether Torres qualified as a non-English-speaking person under the District of Columbia Interpreter Act and was therefore entitled to a qualified interpreter before custodial interrogation.
2. Whether the trial court erred by denying Torres's motion to suppress statements obtained without an interpreter.

Disposition

affirmed