Reported / Citable
Background
Geraldo Ray Garcia was charged in the Western District of Texas. He waived his appearance before the district court and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell for a felony plea proceeding and an allocution under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
On September 15, 2026, the magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation advising that Garcia’s guilty plea be accepted. Garcia did not oppose that recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman accepted Garcia’s guilty plea to Count 1 of the indictment.
The one-page order did not identify the offense charged in Count 1 or address sentencing. It resolved only whether to accept the plea recommended by the magistrate judge.
Key Takeaways
- Garcia waived his appearance before the district judge and entered his felony plea before a magistrate judge.
- The magistrate judge recommended accepting the plea after the Rule 11 proceeding.
- Because Garcia filed no opposition, the district court accepted his guilty plea to Count 1.
Why It Matters
The order completes the judicial acceptance of Garcia’s guilty plea following proceedings before the magistrate judge. It leaves the case to proceed beyond the plea stage, while expressing no view in this order about sentencing or the substance of the charged offense.