Adams v. State

OPINION

COHEN, Justice.

In a non-jury trial, appellant was found guilty of sexual assault, and after finding the enhancement paragraph true, the court assessed 25 years confinement as punishment.

This case presents the problem of dealing with a deaf defendant who does not know sign language or lip reading. Appellant, who is deaf, claims that the trial court erred in failing to appoint an interpreter for him. He argues that this violated Tex. Code Crim.P.Ann. art. 38.31 (Vernon Supp. 1988) and denied him his right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, pursuant to the U.S. Const, amends. VI and…