Reported / Citable
Background
The case was referred under a general order to U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters to conduct a felony guilty-plea proceeding. Ricardo Adrian Amezquita-Martinez appeared with counsel on September 1, 2026.
After advising Amezquita-Martinez of his right to have a district judge take the plea and giving the required Rule 11 admonishments, the magistrate judge received his guilty plea to Count One of the indictment, illegal reentry into the United States. The plea was entered without a plea agreement.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Amezquita-Martinez understood the charge, penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights; was competent to plead guilty; and entered the plea freely and voluntarily.
The magistrate judge also found a sufficient factual basis for the plea and found Amezquita-Martinez guilty of the count to which he pleaded. The court 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 found the Rule 11 requirements satisfied and a factual basis for the plea.
- The recommendation remains subject to objections and district-court action before sentencing.
Why It Matters
The filing documents a completed Rule 11 plea colloquy and recommends acceptance of the plea, but it is a findings-and-recommendation order rather than a final sentencing decision. Parties have 14 days to file written objections.