Reported / Citable
Background
Francisco Javier Martinez-Montelongo waived his appearance before the district court and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane for a felony plea proceeding and allocution under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
On August 13, 2026, the magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation advising the district court to accept Martinez-Montelongo’s guilty plea. Martinez-Montelongo did not oppose the recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra accepted Martinez-Montelongo’s guilty plea to Count One of the indictment.
The one-page order adopted the recommended outcome after reviewing the case file and noting the absence of any opposition from Martinez-Montelongo.
Key Takeaways
- The district court accepted Martinez-Montelongo’s guilty plea to Count One.
- A magistrate judge conducted the felony plea and Rule 11 proceeding after Martinez-Montelongo waived appearance before the district judge.
- Martinez-Montelongo did not oppose the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation.
Why It Matters
The order formally accepts Martinez-Montelongo’s guilty plea and moves the prosecution beyond the plea stage as to Count One. It also illustrates the use of a magistrate judge to conduct a felony plea proceeding and recommend whether the district judge should accept the plea.