People v. Betance-Lopez

Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Evidence
Citation
Case Number: 
2015 IL App (2d) 130521
Decision Date: 
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
District: 
2d Dist.
Division/County: 
Kane Co.
Holding: 
Affirmed.
Justice: 
ZENOFF
(Court opinion corrected 1/29/15.) Defendant was convicted, after bench trial, of two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Court properly relied on written transcript, in which English portion of interview of Defendant by police officer was transcribed verbatim, and Spanish portion of interview was translated into English, as substantive evidence, although audio recording of interview, including live translation by DCFS investigator, was played for court. It would have been impractical or even impossible for court to rely on Spanish portions of recording as substantive evidence. State proved Defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. (JORGENSEN and BIRKETT, concurring.)