Reported / Citable
Background
Ezequiel Morales-Flores 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 taking of the plea.
Morales-Flores consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. After receiving Rule 11 admonishments, he pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment, illegal reentry into the United States. Sentencing was reserved for the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Morales-Flores understood the charge, penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights; was competent to plead; and entered his plea freely and voluntarily.
The magistrate judge also found a sufficient factual basis for the plea and found Morales-Flores guilty of the charged offense. He recommended that the district court accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt.
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 acceptance by the district judge.
Why It Matters
The filing is a guilty-plea recommendation, not a final district-court acceptance of the plea or sentencing decision. Parties have 14 days to object; absent timely objections, review of unobjected-to findings may be limited on appeal.