Francisco Lopez-Vasquez v. United States

In his brief appellant states: “The facts in this matter are extremely simple. The arrest was a routine ‘border bust’, involving a semi-literate Mexican national, 112 pounds of marijuana and an old Chevrolet altered to be a marijuana ferry. The arrest occurred during a routine check at Calexico on August 9, 1968.

“The trial itself, except for the issues of appeal, was a routine federal marijuana trial. The defendant was arrested at the border station at Calexico, while driving the old Chevrolet containing the contraband. The sole issue was intent: Was he a knowing or an unknowing ‘mule’?”

The trial court found that appellant was a “knowing mule” and found him guilty on both counts of a two count indictment charging violations of Title 21 U.S.C. Sec. 176a. We affirm.

The appellant complains that he was deprived of the right to confrontation because he was unable to hear one witness who testified for the appellee. At trial the appellant was furnished with a Spanish speaking interpreter who sat at the counsel table with him. During the trial the government called a Spanish speaking witness in rebuttal and the judge suggested that the interpreter move to the side of the witness,…