Reported / Citable
Background
Gaspar David Perez-Guzman appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters for a felony guilty-plea proceeding referred under a general order. The magistrate judge advised Perez-Guzman that he could have his plea taken by a district judge and conducted the Rule 11 colloquy.
Perez-Guzman pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One of the indictment charging illegal reentry into the United States. Sentencing remains for the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Perez-Guzman, with counsel’s advice, consented to the magistrate judge’s taking of the plea; understood the charge, penalties, and rights he was waiving; and entered the plea freely and voluntarily. The court also found him competent and concluded that a sufficient factual basis supported the plea.
The magistrate judge found Perez-Guzman 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 filing is a findings-and-recommendation document, subject to objections and district-court review.
Key Takeaways
- Perez-Guzman pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found the Rule 11 plea requirements satisfied.
- The magistrate judge recommended acceptance of the plea; the district judge will handle sentencing.
Why It Matters
The decision illustrates the magistrate-judge role in felony plea proceedings: after obtaining the defendant’s consent and conducting the Rule 11 colloquy, the magistrate judge may make findings and recommend acceptance, while the district judge retains the final role in acting on the recommendation and imposing sentence.