Reported / Citable
Background
Jabier Uyoa-Martinez appeared with counsel before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Cordova for a felony guilty-plea proceeding referred under a general order. The magistrate judge advised Uyoa-Martinez of his right to have the plea taken by a district judge and gave the required Rule 11 admonishments.
Uyoa-Martinez consented to the magistrate judge’s taking of the plea and pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to Count One: illegal reentry into the United States in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Sentencing was reserved for the presiding district judge.
The Court’s Holding
The magistrate judge found that Uyoa-Martinez understood the charge, potential penalties, and his constitutional and statutory rights; voluntarily waived those rights; was competent; and entered his plea freely and voluntarily.
The magistrate judge also found a sufficient factual basis for the plea, found Uyoa-Martinez guilty of the charge to which he pleaded, and recommended that the district court accept the guilty plea and enter a judgment of guilt. The parties were notified that objections were due within 14 days.
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 district-court review and any timely objections.
Why It Matters
The filing reflects the magistrate-judge plea process in a federal felony case: the magistrate judge conducted the Rule 11 proceeding and recommended acceptance, while the district judge retains responsibility for accepting the recommendation and imposing sentence.