People v. Argueta

Defendant was convicted, after bench trial, of various criminal sexual assault offenses. After State had rested, court properly refused Defendant's request for interpreter for his own testimony at trial. Defendant, a Spanish speaker and El Salvador citizen who described himself as "bilingual", repeatedly declined interpreter during numerous interactions with court in year prior to trial. Defense counsel and Defendant both told court that he understood and spoke English and did not need an interpreter; record supports finding that Defendant was capable of testifying in English. (PUCINSKI and LAVIN, concurring.)