State v. Letterman

Defendant appeals from his conviction, after trial to the court, of burglary in the second degree. The issue is whether testimony by a police officer of statements made by defendant to the officer through an interpreter were properly admitted over defendant’s timely objection. We hold that they were, and affirm.

The evidence shows that after defendant was arrested, he was interviewed by Officer Laudenback of the Monmouth Police Department. Since Officer Laudenback was unable to communicate effectively with defendant, who is a deaf-mute, the officer obtained the services of Shirley Shisler, an…