Alvarez-Perdomo v. State

Judge MANNHEIMER.

Paino Manuel Alvarez-Perdomo was convicted of first-degree assault for shooting his mother in the side, and also third-degree weapons misconduct for being a felon in possession of a concealable firearm.

Alvarez-Perdomo appeals his convictions, arguing that the trial judge forced him to testify at his trial, thus violating his constitutional right not to be compelled to incriminate himself. We agree that the trial judge committed error by forcing Alvarez-Perdomo to take the stand when he never clearly stated that he wished to testify. However, we conclude that, given the facts…