Tomas v. State

Flavio Tomas appeals his conviction and sentence for sexual battery on a person less than twelve years of age and lewd and lascivious molestation. Tomas raises three issues on appeal: 1) the improper use of a foreign language transcript and recording; 2) failure to conduct a timely Nelson1 hearing; and 3) the preclusion of certain testimony regarding the victim and her mother. We affirm.

With respect to the first issue, the State during trial introduced a recording of Tomas’s custodial interrogation by police, in which Tomas made incriminating admissions. Tomas spoke in Spanish during the…