Reported / Citable
Background
Luis Arelis Bonilla-Galeamo appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The matter had been referred under a general order for the taking of a guilty plea.
After receiving Rule 11 admonishments, Bonilla-Galeamo pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment, charging illegal reentry into the United States. Sentencing remains assigned to the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Bonilla-Galeamo knowingly and voluntarily consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea; understood the charge, penalties, and rights he was waiving; and was competent to plead guilty.
The magistrate judge also found a sufficient factual basis for the plea and found Bonilla-Galeamo guilty of Count One. The filing is a findings-and-recommendation order: it recommends that the district judge accept the plea and enter a judgment of guilt.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge recommended acceptance of the plea after completing the Rule 11 colloquy.
- Any objections to the recommendation must be filed within 14 days.
Why It Matters
The order does not impose sentence or finally accept the plea; it recommends those actions to the district judge. Absent timely objections, the district court may adopt the recommendation, after which the case proceeds to sentencing.