Posted on 01/24/2006 11:20:50 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Ex-con Edgar "Tony" Gonzalez spent time in prison for selling drugs and having sex with a 16-year-old girl, but he started a new life Monday as a Spanish language interpreter for the Wisconsin court system.
"It means that the very court that sentenced me has given me new life," Gonzalez, 39, of Minocqua, said.
"I hope it's an inspiration to the men and women who are in (prison) today, who with a little support and effort can get their lives back on track and serve their communities."
Gonzalez and four other newly certified Spanish language interpreters were welcomed at a swearing-in ceremony in the marble and gold-leaf splendor of the Wisconsin Supreme Court hearing room at the state Capitol, where Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson administered the oath of office.
"To go to court and not understand what is being said is not justice," Abrahamson said. "We are very proud of all our certified interpreters. . . . This is a proud day."
"I give thanks to the Lord, the system has helped me get back on my feet," said Gonzalez, a self-employed electrician. "Some of us probably need a little harder tug on the ears."
Gonzalez studied law while in prison, and he eventually wants to become a criminal defense attorney. Being an interpreter "is incredible training, because I get to work along with judges, lawyers and prosecutors," he said.
In 2001, he was a volunteer soccer coach at the high school in Minocqua when news of his marijuana arrest hit the local newspaper and television news. It was a scandal. "Oh, wow. My story was all over the press," he said. "The school dismissed me. I could no longer coach."
He pleaded no contest to a charge of selling marijuana. "I was guilty as charged," he said. "Did I use? Yes, undoubtedly. In the circle of people that consume, at all times you're either looking for some or someone is looking to get some. You get it from one individual and you pass it on. did it more as a favor."
He'd not been in trouble before, and so judgment and sentencing were deferred. But a little more than a year later, Gonzalez got into trouble a second time. He had sex with a 16- year-old girl who was a friend of his 19-year-old son. "She took a liking to me," he said. "I did not do what a responsible adult should have done."
Again, he pleaded no contest. On May 2, 2003, he was sentenced to prison for his felony drug conviction and for the sex charge, a misdemeanor. He was released Nov. 9, 2004.
"Having a criminal record is not an automatic bar to becoming a certified court interpreter. ur trainings are open to everybody," said Carmel Capati, manager of the interpreter program. Criminal background checks are done, and candidates must meet with a character and fitness committee, she said.
"With Tony, he went through that process and they made the recommendation he be certified," she said. "There was a condition he disclose his conviction to any court that hires him."
There's tremendous need for programs that help ex-convicts reintegrate into society, said Jerome Dillard of Madison Area Urban Ministry's prisoner re- entry program, The Journey Home, which began Jan. 3 with a $55,000 United Way grant. Already, more than 40 people have come through the door seeking help in housing and jobs, he said. And MUM has run a biweekly support group for returning convicts, called Voices Beyond Bars, for three years.
"It's of the utmost importance to support them in employment. Recidivism is an economic and social issue," Dillard said. "One of the reasons men are in and out is discrimination against them in the work force. I have a qualified welder here that I can't find work for."
Gonzalez, who is divorced, was accompanied to the ceremony by his mother, Esperanza Gonzalez, and his three youngest children, Marlise, 10, Sofia, 7, and Fabian, 9.
"I'm proud because he's worked really hard for this and since he's been out of jail he's been watching (taking care of) us. He brought us to court and he's been teaching us a lot," said Marlise.
The other interpreters, who do not have criminal backgrounds, were Alberto Aguilar of Green Bay, Enrique Barbosa of River Hills, Elizabeth Barerra of Juneau and Amar Miller of Randolph.
The new interpreters are based in Brown, Dodge, Milwaukee and Oneida counties, and will work in a large area of the state. Their investiture brings to 34 the total number of Spanish language interpreters who have been trained, tested and certified through the Wisconsin Court Interpreter Program. Translators of Hmong, Russian, Korean, Arabic and Somali are currently working their way through the certification process.
Certified interpreters are hired by county courts and earn $40 an hour.
Miller said she grew up bilingual and has been interpreting Spanish and English all her life. "It's a great opportunity for me," she said of her new certification.
Barerra said, "I'm a bilingual teacher by trade. I've always been about breaking down barriers between two cultures and this is just another step in that process. It's such a needed thing."
Does this give you an idea why we can't afford a fence on the border?
So apparently this guy was about 37 when he diddled the 16 yr old. And he's out of jail already?
I smell racism bias here. An anglo male would probably be facing 10 yrs.
Looks like I should keep trying to learn Spanish and ASL. Spanish = $40/hr; and a relative who works in Corrections said the prison system pays $200/hr for ASL interpreters. Said there's a high burnout rate, though, because the felons they're interpreting aren't nice people.
Why am I ALWAYS on the wrong side of success?? Who knew that this was all you had to do to get your $80k per year job. And for the Courts and the State no less.
I am so DUMB!! For the past 23 years I've been working, studying, paying taxes, obeying the law, getting and staying married, raising children, and a host of other "good" things.
All I had to do was deal some dope and violate minors....
That's public education for ya!
What makes you so sure that this guy is an illegal?
I'm learning Spanish, too. Not to use in a career, but because we have a time-share we can use in Puerto Vallarta. :)
Just making life easier on myself when we travel, but $40-$200 an hour sure ain't chicken feed!
I use it when we go on our short term missions. So far, I've gone to the Dominican Republic twice, and Guatemala once. by the end of a week, it's starting to make sense. Then I get home, quit practicing, and pretty soon, it's all Greek again! :-)
Maybe you should go on a mission to Greece?
LOL!
I never said he was, but you knew that.
Next question?
LOL! You have a point!
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