Reported / Citable
Background
Jose Antonio Mancilla-Cadena was charged with illegal reentry into the United States. The matter was referred by general order to U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters to take Mancilla-Cadena’s felony guilty plea.
At a July 10, 2026 hearing, Mancilla-Cadena appeared with counsel and consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. After receiving the required Rule 11 admonishments, he pleaded guilty to Count One of the indictment without a plea agreement.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Mancilla-Cadena understood the charge, potential penalties, and the constitutional and statutory rights he was waiving. The judge also found that Mancilla-Cadena was competent, that his plea was knowing and voluntary, and that a sufficient factual basis supported it.
Based on those findings, the magistrate judge recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The matter was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing, and the parties were notified that they had 14 days to object to the findings and recommendation.
Key Takeaways
- Mancilla-Cadena pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found that the Rule 11 requirements were satisfied and that the plea had a sufficient factual basis.
- The recommendation remains subject to review by the district judge, who will also conduct sentencing.
Why It Matters
The findings document the procedural safeguards required before a federal felony guilty plea may be accepted, including competency, voluntariness, knowledge of the charge and penalties, waiver of rights, and a factual basis for the plea.
The recommendation does not impose a sentence. It sends the plea to the presiding district judge for acceptance, entry of judgment, and sentencing, subject to the parties’ opportunity to object.