Order Accepting Magistrate Judge’s Report and Recommendation Regarding Defendant’s Guilty Plea — United States v. Wells (Dkt. 28, N.D. Iowa)

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An order by Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand in United States of America v. Alyssa Helen Wells, No. CR20-3042-LTS, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Central Division, dated April 30, 2021. It recites that a four-count indictment was filed on October 20, 2020, and that on April 14, 2021 the defendant pleaded guilty to Counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 before Chief United States Magistrate Judge Kelly K.E. Mahoney, who recommended acceptance (Doc. 27). With no objections filed, the order reviews the recommendation and accepts the defendant's guilty plea, allowing a written request for de novo review within seven days.

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
                   FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF IOWA
                             CENTRAL DIVISION

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
               Plaintiff,                               No. CR20-3042-LTS
 vs.                                          ORDER ACCEPTING MAGISTRATE
                                                  JUDGE’S REPORT AND
                                              RECOMMENDATION REGARDING
 ALYSSA HELEN WELLS,                            DEFENDANT’S GUILTY PLEA
               Defendant.


                                  I. BACKGROUND
       On October 20, 2020, a four-count indictment was filed against defendant. On
April 14, 2021, defendant appeared before the Honorable Kelly K.E. Mahoney, Chief
United States Magistrate Judge, and entered a plea of guilty to Counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of
the indictment. On April 14, 2021, Judge Mahoney filed a Report and Recommendation
(R&R) in which she recommended that defendant’s guilty plea be accepted. Doc. 27.
No objections to the R&R were filed. I therefore undertake the necessary review of
Judge Mahoney’s recommendation to accept defendant’s plea in this case.


                            II. APPLICABLE STANDARDS
       A district judge must review a magistrate judge’s R&R in a criminal case under
the following standards:
       Within fourteen days after being served with a copy, any party may serve
       and file written objections to such proposed findings and recommendations
       as provided by rules of court. A judge of the court shall make a de novo
       determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings
       or recommendations to which objection is made. A judge of the court may
       accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or
       recommendations made by the magistrate judge. The judge may also
       receive further evidence or recommit the matter to the magistrate judge with
       instructions.


       Case 3:20-cr-03042-LTS-KEM Document 28 Filed 04/30/21 Page 1 of 3

28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); see also Fed. R. Crim. P. 59(b). Thus, when a party objects to
any portion of an R&R, the district judge must undertake a de novo review of that portion.
       Any portions of an R&R to which no objections have been made must be reviewed
under at least a “clearly erroneous” standard. See, e.g., Grinder v. Gammon, 73 F.3d
793, 795 (8th Cir. 1996) (noting that when no objections are filed “[the district court
judge] would only have to review the findings of the magistrate judge for clear error”).
As the Supreme Court has explained, “[a] finding is ‘clearly erroneous’ when although
there is evidence to support it, the reviewing court on the entire evidence is left with the
definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been committed.” Anderson v. City of
Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573-74 (1985) (quoting United States v. U.S. Gypsum Co.,
333 U.S. 364, 395 (1948)). However, a district judge may elect to review an R&R under
a more-exacting standard even if no objections are filed:
       Any party that desires plenary consideration by the Article III judge of any
       issue need only ask. Moreover, while the statute does not require the judge
       to review an issue de novo if no objections are filed, it does not preclude
       further review by the district judge, sua sponte or at the request of a party,
       under a de novo or any other standard.

Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 150 (1985).


                                     III. DISCUSSION
       Because neither party objects to the R&R, I have reviewed it for clear error. Based
on that review, I am not “left with the definite and firm conviction that a mistake has
been committed.” Anderson, 470 U.S. at 573-74. As such, I hereby accept the R&R
without modification and accept defendant’s plea of guilty in this case as to Counts 1, 2,
3 and 4 of the indictment.1


1
  United States v. Cortez-Hernandez, 673 F. App’x 587 (8th Cir. 2016) (per curiam), suggests
that a defendant may have the right to de novo review of a magistrate judge’s recommendation
to accept a plea of guilty even if no objection is filed. But see 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R.



      Case 3:20-cr-03042-LTS-KEM Document 28 Filed 04/30/21 Page 2 of 3

      IT IS SO ORDERED.
      DATED this 30th day of April, 2021.




                                         __________________________
                                         Leonard T. Strand, Chief Judge




Crim. P. 59(b). I will undertake a de novo review of the R&R if a written request for such
review is filed within seven (7) days after this order is filed.




      Case 3:20-cr-03042-LTS-KEM Document 28 Filed 04/30/21 Page 3 of 3

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