Reported / Citable
Background
Keydi Ninoska Garcia-Flores appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters 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 her right to have the district judge take the plea and receiving the required Rule 11 admonitions, Garcia-Flores pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to Count One of the indictment, illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Garcia-Flores consented to the magistrate judge’s taking of her plea; understood the charge, potential penalties, and her constitutional and statutory rights; and knowingly, freely, and voluntarily waived those rights.
The magistrate judge further found Garcia-Flores competent, found a sufficient factual basis for the plea, and found her guilty of the charged offense. The court recommended that Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses accept the plea and enter a judgment of guilt. Sentencing was referred to the presiding district judge.
Key Takeaways
- Garcia-Flores pleaded guilty to illegal reentry without a plea agreement.
- The magistrate judge found the plea knowing, voluntary, and supported by an adequate factual basis.
- The recommendation remains subject to objections within 14 days and acceptance by the district judge.
Why It Matters
The filing is a report and recommendation, not a final district-court judgment. It documents completion of the Rule 11 plea colloquy and recommends acceptance of the guilty plea, while leaving final acceptance and sentencing to the district judge.