Reported / Citable
Background
The district court referred the matter to U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love to administer Richard David Taylor Jr.’s guilty plea under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11. The magistrate judge conducted the required hearing and issued findings of fact and a recommendation concerning the plea.
The magistrate judge recommended accepting Taylor’s guilty plea and adjudging him guilty on count three of the indictment. Taylor waived his right to object to those findings.
The Court’s Holding
The district court accepted the magistrate judge’s findings of fact and recommendation and accepted Taylor’s guilty plea. It deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until after reviewing the presentence report.
Based on the guilty plea, the court found Taylor guilty of count three of the indictment: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).
Key Takeaways
- The court accepted Taylor’s guilty plea after adopting the magistrate judge’s findings and recommendation.
- Taylor was adjudged guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- The court deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until after review of the presentence report.
Why It Matters
The order formally adjudicates Taylor guilty on count three while distinguishing acceptance of his guilty plea from acceptance of the plea agreement. The latter remained deferred pending the court’s review of the presentence report.