People v. Gorga

Following a bench trial, the defendant, Emilio Gorga, was found guilty of robbery and sentenced to 8V2 years’ incarceration. The defendant now appeals and requests that we reverse his conviction and grant him a new trial, contending that the trial court erred (1) when it refused his request to represent himself and (2) when it allowed an ineffective interpreter to participate in the trial proceedings. For the reasons that follow, we affirm.

On August 9, 2007, at approximately 7:25 p.m., Vincent Ramirez was waiting for a bus when two men approached him. One of the men, who was later identified…