State of Connecticut v. Alberto Garcia

Summary

The court affirmed the defendant’s robbery and conspiracy convictions, holding that his written confession was admissible despite his claim that he was in custody, that his waiver was involuntary, and that the statement was improperly translated and authenticated. The court concluded that the defendant was properly advised of and voluntarily waived his rights, that the trial court’s finding of no police coercion was not clearly erroneous, and that the bilingual officer’s testimony sufficiently authenticated the statement. The court also rejected the defendant’s due process and equal protection challenges to the use of a police officer as interpreter.