Reported / Citable
Background
Luis Rene Pineda-Ramos appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew H. Watters for a felony guilty-plea proceeding. The matter had been referred to the magistrate judge under a general order for taking the plea.
After receiving Rule 11 admonishments, Pineda-Ramos consented to having the magistrate judge take his plea. He pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One of the indictment, charging illegal reentry into the United States.
The Court’s Holding
Judge Watters found that Pineda-Ramos understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights, and that he knowingly and voluntarily waived those rights. The magistrate judge also found him competent to plead guilty and found a sufficient factual basis for the plea.
The magistrate judge found Pineda-Ramos guilty of the offense to which he pleaded and recommended that the district judge accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The case was referred to the presiding district judge for sentencing.
Key Takeaways
- The defendant pleaded guilty without a plea agreement to illegal reentry.
- The magistrate judge concluded that the Rule 11 plea requirements were satisfied.
- The recommendation remained subject to objections and acceptance by the district judge.
Why It Matters
The filing is a report and recommendation, not a final acceptance of the plea or sentencing decision. Unless timely objections alter the result, the presiding district judge may accept the plea and proceed to sentencing.