Reported / Citable
Background
Miguel Angel Perez-Salinas was charged in the Western District of Texas with illegal reentry into the United States. The case was referred by general order to U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters to take Perez-Salinas’s felony guilty plea.
On July 7, 2026, Perez-Salinas appeared with counsel and consented to have the magistrate judge take his plea, with sentencing reserved for the presiding district judge. After receiving the required Rule 11 admonishments, Perez-Salinas pleaded guilty to Count One without a plea agreement.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Perez-Salinas understood the charge, possible penalties, and the constitutional and statutory rights he was waiving. The judge also found that Perez-Salinas was competent, that his plea was knowing and voluntary, and that a sufficient factual basis supported it.
Based on those findings, the magistrate judge found Perez-Salinas guilty of the charge to which he pleaded and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The matter was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing, and the parties were given 14 days to object to the findings and recommendation.
Key Takeaways
- Perez-Salinas pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge concluded that the plea satisfied Rule 11 and was supported by a sufficient factual basis.
- The recommendation remains subject to district-court review, and sentencing will be conducted by the presiding district judge.
Why It Matters
The recommendation documents the procedural safeguards required before a federal felony guilty plea may be accepted, including competency, voluntariness, an understanding of the charge and penalties, and a sufficient factual basis.
It also clarifies the case’s posture: the magistrate judge took the plea and recommended its acceptance, while entry of judgment on that recommendation and sentencing remain with the district judge.