Reported / Citable
Background
Carlos Humberto Duron-Perez 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 felony plea.
After being advised of his right to have a district judge take the plea and receiving the Rule 11 admonishments, Duron-Perez consented to proceeding before the magistrate judge. He pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One of the indictment: illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Duron-Perez understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights; and was competent to plead guilty. The court also found that the plea was voluntary and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
Accordingly, the magistrate judge found Duron-Perez guilty of the charged offense and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The case was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found the Rule 11 requirements satisfied and a factual basis for the plea.
- The filing is a recommendation subject to objections, not a final district-court acceptance order.
Why It Matters
The recommendation preserves the district judge’s role in accepting the plea and imposing sentence while documenting that the plea colloquy satisfied Rule 11. Parties have 14 days to object; absent timely objections, the stated review and appellate consequences apply.