Reported / Citable
Background
Darlyn Janel Hernandez-Figueroa appeared with counsel before a magistrate judge 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 the admonishments required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, Hernandez-Figueroa pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment, which charged illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Hernandez-Figueroa consented to the plea proceeding, understood the charge, penalties, and rights at issue, and freely and voluntarily waived those rights. The magistrate judge also found him competent to plead guilty and concluded that the plea had a sufficient factual basis.
The magistrate judge found Hernandez-Figueroa guilty of the charge and recommended that the district court accept his guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The matter was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing, and the parties were advised that objections to the findings and recommendation were due within 14 days after receipt.
Key Takeaways
- Hernandez-Figueroa pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found that the plea was knowing, voluntary, competent, and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
- The recommendation remained subject to district-court review, with sentencing reserved for the presiding district judge.
Why It Matters
The findings document compliance with Rule 11 and provide the basis for the district court to accept the felony guilty plea and enter judgment. They also preserve the distinction between the magistrate judge’s role in conducting the plea proceeding and the district judge’s responsibility for accepting the recommendation and imposing sentence.