Reported / Citable
Background
Ruben Dario Flores-Valico 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 magistrate judge to take the plea.
After being advised of his right to have a district judge take the plea and receiving Rule 11 admonishments, Flores-Valico pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment, charging illegal reentry into the United States. Sentencing was reserved for the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Flores-Valico knowingly and voluntarily consented to the magistrate judge’s taking of his plea; understood the charge, penalties, and rights he waived; and was competent to plead guilty.
The magistrate judge further found a sufficient factual basis for the plea and found Flores-Valico guilty of the charged offense. The court recommended that the district judge accept the plea and enter a judgment of guilt, subject to the parties’ opportunity to object within 14 days.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found the plea voluntary, knowing, competent, and supported by a factual basis.
- The filing is a findings-and-recommendation document; acceptance of the plea and entry of judgment were recommended to the district judge.
Why It Matters
The decision illustrates the Rule 11 process when a magistrate judge conducts a felony plea hearing with the defendant’s consent. It also underscores that objections to the recommendation must be timely filed to preserve de novo district-court review.