Reported / Citable
Background
Angelica Maria Lopez-Hernandez appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The case had been referred to the magistrate judge under a general order for the taking of the plea.
Lopez-Hernandez consented to have the magistrate judge take her plea. She pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One of the indictment, charging illegal reentry into the United States. Sentencing remains with the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
After conducting the Rule 11 colloquy, the magistrate judge found that Lopez-Hernandez understood the charge, penalties, and her constitutional and statutory rights; that she knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights; and that she was competent to plead guilty.
The magistrate judge also found that the plea was voluntary and supported by a sufficient factual basis, found Lopez-Hernandez guilty of the charge to which she pleaded, and recommended that the district court accept the plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The recommendation is subject to objections within 14 days.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to illegal reentry.
- The magistrate judge concluded that the Rule 11 requirements were satisfied and that a factual basis supported the plea.
- The filing is a recommendation; the district judge will decide whether to accept the plea and will conduct sentencing.
Why It Matters
The order documents a magistrate judge’s plea-taking role in a felony case when the defendant consents. It does not impose sentence or finally resolve the plea’s acceptance, which remains for the district judge after the objection period.