Reported / Citable
Background
Whitney Rhea Fugler pleaded guilty to Count 2 of an indictment charging use of a communication facility in the commission of a controlled-substance offense, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 843.
After conducting a Rule 11 plea proceeding, U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne issued findings of fact and recommended that the district court accept Fugler’s plea. The parties waived objections to that recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
District Judge Rodney Gilstrap adopted the magistrate judge’s findings of fact and recommendation.
Consistent with Fugler’s plea agreement, the court accepted the guilty plea and found Fugler guilty of Count 2.
Key Takeaways
- The court adopted the magistrate judge’s recommendation following the Rule 11 plea proceeding.
- The parties waived their right to object to the recommendation.
- The order found Fugler guilty of using a communication facility to commit a controlled-substance offense.
Why It Matters
The order formally converted Fugler’s guilty plea into a district-court finding of guilt on Count 2. It reflects the standard plea-acceptance process in which a magistrate judge conducts the plea proceeding and the district judge adopts the resulting recommendation.