Reported / Citable
Background
Luis Fernando Martinez-Motino appeared with counsel before 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, Martinez-Motino 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 Martinez-Motino understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights, and that he knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights. The magistrate judge also found Martinez-Motino competent and concluded that an adequate factual basis supported the plea.
The magistrate judge found Martinez-Motino guilty of Count One and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The matter was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing, subject to the parties’ opportunity to object to the recommendation within 14 days.
Key Takeaways
- Martinez-Motino pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to illegal reentry.
- The magistrate judge found the plea knowing, voluntary, competent, and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
- The recommendation to accept the plea remains subject to district-court review and any timely objections.
Why It Matters
The filing is a Rule 11 guilty-plea recommendation, not a sentencing decision. It places the case before the district judge for final acceptance of the plea, entry of judgment, and sentencing.