Reported / Citable
Background
Evin Adonay Cruz-Lara appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. Cruz-Lara consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea, while sentencing remains with Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.
After Rule 11 admonishments, Cruz-Lara 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 Cruz-Lara understood the charge, penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; voluntarily waived those rights; and was competent to plead guilty. The magistrate judge also found that the plea was voluntary and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
The magistrate judge found Cruz-Lara guilty of the charge to which he pleaded and recommended that the district court accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The recommendation is subject to objections and review by the district court.
Key Takeaways
- Cruz-Lara pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found the Rule 11 plea requirements satisfied.
- The district judge, not the magistrate judge, will conduct sentencing.
Why It Matters
The filing is a plea recommendation, not a final sentencing decision. Unless objections alter the result, the case will proceed to the district judge for acceptance of the plea and sentencing.