Reported / Citable
Background
Gaspar Fuentes-Chantero appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters in the Western District of Texas for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The matter had been referred to the magistrate judge under a general order for the taking of a felony plea.
After Rule 11 admonishments, Fuentes-Chantero consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. He pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One of the indictment, charging illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Fuentes-Chantero understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights, and that he knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights. The court also found him competent and concluded that a sufficient factual basis supported the plea.
The magistrate judge found Fuentes-Chantero guilty of the offense to which he pleaded and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. Sentencing was referred to Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.
Key Takeaways
- Fuentes-Chantero pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found the plea knowing, voluntary, competent, and supported by an adequate factual basis.
- The recommendation remains subject to objections and district-court review before final acceptance and sentencing.
Why It Matters
The filing is a plea recommendation, not a final sentencing decision. It records the Rule 11 findings supporting acceptance of the defendant’s guilty plea while leaving final acceptance, judgment, and sentencing to the presiding district judge.