Reported / Citable
Background
Evher Jonathan Trapp Madrid appeared with counsel before Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The case had been referred to the magistrate judge under a general order for the taking of a felony plea.
After receiving Rule 11 admonishments, Trapp Madrid 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. Sentencing was reserved for the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Trapp Madrid understood the charge, penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; voluntarily waived those rights; was competent to plead guilty; and entered his plea freely and voluntarily. The magistrate judge also found a sufficient factual basis for the plea.
The magistrate judge found Trapp Madrid guilty of the charge to which he pleaded and recommended that the district court accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The recommendation remained subject to objections and review by the district court.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found the Rule 11 plea requirements satisfied.
- The district judge, not the magistrate judge, will conduct sentencing and decide whether to accept the recommendation.
Why It Matters
The filing is a plea-stage recommendation, not a final judgment by the district court. It records findings supporting acceptance of the guilty plea while preserving the parties’ opportunity to object within 14 days.