Reported / Citable
Background
Maria Del Carmen Magana-Mendez appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova for a felony guilty-plea proceeding referred under a general order. She consented to having the magistrate judge take her plea, while sentencing remained for the presiding district judge.
After Rule 11 admonishments, Magana-Mendez pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One, charging illegal reentry into the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Cordova found that Magana-Mendez understood the charge, penalties, and her constitutional and statutory rights; voluntarily waived those rights; was competent to plead; and entered her plea freely and voluntarily. The magistrate judge also found a sufficient factual basis for the plea and found her guilty of the charged offense.
The magistrate judge recommended that the district court accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The recommendation advised the parties that objections must be filed within 14 days and referred the case to the presiding district judge for sentencing.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty to illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326 without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge concluded that the Rule 11 requirements were satisfied and that a factual basis supported the plea.
- The plea acceptance remained subject to the district court’s consideration of the recommendation and any timely objections.
Why It Matters
The filing illustrates the magistrate-judge plea process in a felony case: the magistrate judge conducts the Rule 11 proceeding and issues findings and a recommendation, while the district judge retains responsibility for accepting the recommendation and imposing sentence.