Reported / Citable
Background
Adelaida Gaona-Bernal appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters on July 7, 2026, to enter a felony guilty plea. The matter had been referred to the magistrate judge for that purpose.
After being advised that she could have the district judge take her plea, Gaona-Bernal consented to proceeding before the magistrate judge. She pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One of the indictment, which charged illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Gaona-Bernal understood the charge, potential penalties, and the constitutional and statutory rights she was waiving. He also found that she was competent, that her plea was knowing and voluntary, and that a sufficient factual basis supported it.
The magistrate judge found Gaona-Bernal guilty of the charge and recommended that the district judge accept her guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The matter was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing, and the parties were given 14 days to object to the findings and recommendation.
Key Takeaways
- Gaona-Bernal pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge concluded that the plea satisfied Rule 11 and was supported by a sufficient factual basis.
- The recommendation was not the sentencing decision; sentencing remained for the presiding district judge.
Why It Matters
The findings document the procedural safeguards supporting Gaona-Bernal’s felony guilty plea, including her consent to appear before a magistrate judge and her knowing and voluntary waiver of rights.
The recommendation also preserves the district judge’s role in accepting the plea, entering judgment, and imposing sentence, subject to the parties’ opportunity to object.