Illegal Immigrant Granted Mistrial Because Juror Couldn’t Understand English

Aug 1, 2018

An illegal immigrant accused of serious crimes is off the hook after a juror’s failure to understand complex English words prompted a mistrial.

“Nicodemo Coria-Gonzalez was set to go to trial this week in Travis County in connection to a string of violent attacks against women, including one who said Coria-Gonzalez sexually assaulted her while threatening her with a knife, and another who accused him of dousing her in gasoline,” according to the Austin America–Statesman.

The judge appeared frustrated by the juror in a photograph taken inside the courtroom, according to Statesman reporter Mark D. Wilson.

“Photo says it all: Juror’s problems with English prompts mistrial for sex assault suspect,” he wrote on Twitter.

Nicodemo Coria-Gonzalez was set to go to trial this week in Travis County in connection to a string of violent attacks against women, including one who said Coria-Gonzalez sexually assaulted her while threatening her with a knife, and another who accused him of dousing her in gasoline.

“The disclosure came prior to opening statements and prompted state District Judge David Crain to declare a mistrial in the state’s aggravated sexual assault case against Coria-Gonzalez,” said the Statesman.

According to the paper, Coria-Gonzalez has a long criminal history in the United States, and has been deported five times for past convictions. He was accused of attacking seven women, some of them prostitutes, between 2015 and 2016.

Coria-Gonzalez is only 27, and given his history will likely end up crossing the border to commit future crimes.