By Douglass Dowty
Syracuse Media Group, N.Y.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Norberto Rodriguez is the only one of five drug suspects still in jail after a recent indictment.
Today, Rodriguez, 46, was before state Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti for arraignment.
But no court-certified Spanish language translator was available and Rodriguez could not understand what was going on.
Brunetti attempted to continue the arraignment. After all, one of the other suspects had been released from jail Wednesday, the judge noted.
And records show all four of Rodriguez’s co-defendants are free as the case progresses.
The judge indicated there was a strong likelihood he was going to set a bail that would allow Rodriguez to also be released.
He told Rodriguez that if he understood what was going on, he could be released from jail today.
But Rodriguez stood there with a bewildered look on his face.
The judge decided to forgo the arraignment, but still wanted to talk about lowering Rodriguez’s bail.
That didn’t get anywhere, either, leaving Brunetti grimacing and flicking a rubber band in frustration.
Out of options, Rodriguez went back to jail for at least one more night until a translator could be brought to court Friday.
Rodriguez, Jean Cruz, Miguel Martinez, Alex Rios and Victor Santo are all facing numerous drug possession charges that could bring state prison sentences.
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