Title: Perez v. State
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 133, 2019
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: December 3, 2019

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
JAVIER PEREZ,  
 
 
§ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
§ 
No. 133, 2019 
 
Defendant Below,  
 
§ 
 
 
 
Appellant,  
 
 
§ 
 
§ 
Court Below: Superior Court 
v. 
 
 
 
 
§ 
of the State of Delaware  
 
 
 
 
 
§ 
 
STATE OF DELAWARE, 
 
§ 
 
 
§ 
Cr. ID No. 1804006358 (N) 
 
Plaintiff Below, 
 
 
§ 
 
 
Appellee. 
 
 
 
§ 
 
Submitted: November 13, 2019 
Decided: 
December 3, 2019 
 
Before SEITZ, Chief Justice; VALIHURA, and TRAYNOR, Justices. 
 
ORDER 
 
This 3rd day of December, 2019, having considered the briefs and the record 
below, it appears to the Court that:  
(1) 
Javier Perez is not a United States citizen, his native language is 
Spanish, and he has lived in this country for 30 years.  On April 11, 2018, police 
arrested and charged Perez with Fifth Offense DUI, Following Too Closely, Failure 
to Report Address Change and Failure to have Possession of Registration.  Perez 
discussed his case with his attorney, with the assistance of an interpreter, and 
understood what they discussed.1  At one meeting, Perez brought a relative in case 
                                          
 
1 App. to Opening Br. at A-9-12.   
 
2 
he needed an interpretation, but the relative only assisted once.2  On October 30, 
2018, Perez, with the assistance of an interpreter, knowingly and intelligently pled 
guilty to Fifth Offense DUI.  Then on March 1, 2019, Perez was sentenced without 
the assistance of an interpreter.  At sentencing, he did not request an interpreter, nor 
did he indicate that he did not understand the proceedings.3 
(2) 
On appeal, Perez argues that the Superior Court violated his rights 
under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the United States 
Constitution when it did not provide a Spanish interpreter during his sentencing 
hearing.4  Because this issue was not raised in the Superior Court, we review for 
plain error.  “[P]lain error is limited to material defects which are apparent on the 
face of the record; which are basic, serious and fundamental in their character, and 
which clearly deprive an accused of a substantial right, or which clearly show 
manifest injustice.”5  
(3) 
We have held that “[a] criminal defendant who is unable to understand 
the English language is effectively denied the right to consult with an attorney, to 
confront his or her accusers, and/or to waive constitutional rights knowingly, 
                                          
 
2 Opening Br. at 3.   
3 App. to Opening Br. at A-22-26.  
4 Opening Br. at 6. 
5 Wainwright v. State, 504 A.2d 1096, 1100 (Del. 1986). 
 
3 
intelligently, and voluntarily.”6  Perez’s attorney failed to request an interpreter at 
sentencing.  But, after a careful review of the record, we find that Perez entered his 
plea knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently.   
(4) 
With the assistance of an interpreter, counsel discussed the plea with 
Perez ahead of time, advised him of his rights under the Constitution, discussed the 
immigration consequences with him, and answered his questions to his satisfaction.7  
Even though Perez is not a citizen of the United States,8 he has lived in the country 
for 30 years.9  During questioning from the court, he apologized for his English, and 
the court replied that it understood him.10  The record supports, and Perez did not 
dispute, that Perez understands English and knew the potential consequences of 
pleading guilty.  Thus, sentencing him without an interpreter did not violate his 
constitutional rights, and the Superior Court did not plainly err. 
NOW, THEREFORE IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior 
Court is AFFIRMED. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Collins J. Seitz, Jr. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Chief Justice 
 
                                          
 
6 Chao v. State, 604 A.2d 1351, 1362 (Del. 1992), overruled on other grounds by Williams v. State, 
818 A.2d 906 (Del. 2002). 
7 App. to Opening Br. at A-9.   
8 Id. at A-10.   
9 Id. at A-19.   
10 Id. at A-24.