Reported / Citable
Background
Orlin Samuel Ramos-Ramos appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The case had been referred under a general order for the magistrate judge to take the plea.
After receiving Rule 11 admonishments, Ramos-Ramos 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.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Ramos-Ramos understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; voluntarily waived those rights; and was competent to plead guilty. The magistrate judge also found that the plea was knowing and voluntary and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
The magistrate judge found Ramos-Ramos guilty of the charged offense and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. Sentencing was referred to the presiding district judge.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge concluded that the Rule 11 plea requirements were satisfied.
- The recommendation remains subject to objections and district-court review.
Why It Matters
The filing illustrates the magistrate-judge plea process in a felony case: the magistrate judge may conduct the plea hearing with the defendant’s consent, make factual findings, and recommend acceptance, while the district judge retains responsibility for final acceptance and sentencing.