Reported / Citable
Background
The case was referred to U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova to take Homar Alejandro Hernandez-Carrillo’s felony guilty plea. Hernandez-Carrillo appeared with counsel on August 25, 2026.
After receiving Rule 11 admonishments, Hernandez-Carrillo pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One, illegal reentry into the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Sentencing remains before the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Hernandez-Carrillo consented to the magistrate judge taking his plea; understood the charge, penalties, and rights; and knowingly, freely, and voluntarily waived those rights.
The magistrate judge further found Hernandez-Carrillo competent and concluded that a sufficient factual basis supported the plea. The report found him guilty of Count One and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt.
Key Takeaways
- The ruling is a magistrate judge’s findings and recommendation, not a final district-court acceptance order.
- Hernandez-Carrillo pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326.
- Any objections to the recommendation must be filed within 14 days.
Why It Matters
The recommendation clears the case for district-court review and sentencing, subject to any timely objections. It also reflects the magistrate judge’s determination that the plea satisfied Rule 11’s requirements for a knowing and voluntary guilty plea supported by an adequate factual basis.