Reported / Citable
Background
Alexander Shane Sonnier waived his appearance before the district court and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower for a felony plea proceeding and an allocution under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
On October 6, 2026, the magistrate judge filed a report and recommendation advising Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra to accept Sonnier’s guilty plea. The order notes that Sonnier did not oppose the recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
The district court accepted Sonnier’s guilty plea as to Counts One, Two, and Three of the indictment.
The court did so after reviewing the case file and the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation. The order does not describe the offenses charged or address sentencing.
Key Takeaways
- Sonnier’s guilty plea was accepted as to Counts One, Two, and Three.
- The plea proceeding and Rule 11 allocution occurred before Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower after Sonnier waived appearance before the district court.
- Sonnier did not oppose the magistrate judge’s recommendation that the plea be accepted.
Why It Matters
The order formally accepts Sonnier’s guilty plea to the three identified counts, following the magistrate judge’s plea proceedings and recommendation.
Because the order is limited to accepting the plea, it does not identify the underlying offenses, establish whether the indictment contained additional counts, or resolve sentencing.