Reported / Citable
Background
Edgar Gonzalez-Monrreal appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The matter had been referred under a general order for the magistrate judge to take the plea.
After receiving Rule 11 admonishments, Gonzalez-Monrreal consented to have the magistrate judge take his plea. He pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One of the indictment: illegal reentry into the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Gonzalez-Monrreal understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; that he knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights; and that he was competent to plead guilty. The court also found the plea voluntary and supported by a sufficient factual basis.
The magistrate judge found Gonzalez-Monrreal guilty of the charged offense and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. Sentencing was referred to the presiding district judge, Ernest Gonzalez.
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 plea requirements were satisfied.
- The recommendation remains subject to objections and acceptance by the district judge.
Why It Matters
This is a plea-stage recommendation, not a sentencing decision. It documents the magistrate judge’s determination that the defendant’s guilty plea was knowing, voluntary, and factually supported, while leaving final acceptance and sentencing to the district judge.