Reported / Citable
Background
Isai Salas Ugarte waived his appearance before the district court and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower for a felony plea proceeding and an allocution under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
On July 20, 2026, the magistrate judge filed a report and recommendation advising the district court to accept Ugarte’s guilty plea. Ugarte did not oppose the recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman accepted the magistrate judge’s recommendation.
The court ordered that Ugarte’s guilty plea to Count 1 of the Information be accepted.
Key Takeaways
- Ugarte pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Information.
- A magistrate judge conducted the felony plea and Rule 11 allocution after Ugarte waived appearance before the district court.
- The district court accepted the plea after Ugarte filed no opposition to the report and recommendation.
Why It Matters
The order formally accepts Ugarte’s guilty plea to Count 1. It does not address sentencing, the factual basis for the charge, or any disputed legal issue.