Reported / Citable
Background
Frank Horton Lee Jr. waived his appearance before the district court and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane to enter a felony guilty plea and undergo the plea colloquy required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.
On August 6, 2026, the magistrate judge issued a report and recommendation advising the district court to accept Lee’s guilty plea. Lee did not oppose the recommendation.
The Court’s Holding
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman reviewed the case file and the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation.
The court accepted Lee’s guilty plea to Count One of the indictment.
Key Takeaways
- Lee entered a felony guilty plea before a U.S. magistrate judge after waiving appearance before the district judge.
- The magistrate judge recommended that the district court accept the plea following the Rule 11 proceeding.
- With no opposition from Lee, the district court accepted his guilty plea to Count One.
Why It Matters
The order completes the district court’s acceptance of Lee’s guilty plea after the plea proceeding was conducted by a magistrate judge. The one-page order does not address sentencing or disclose the offense charged in Count One.