United States v. Helton

Aug 5, 2026
6:26-cr-00048

ORDER

*** *** *** ***

After conducting Rule 11 proceedings, see DE 21 (Minute Entry), United States Magistrate Judge Edward B. Atkins recommended that the undersigned accept Defendant Rebecca Helton’s guilty plea and adjudge her guilty of Count One of the Indictment (DE 1). See DE 22 (Recommendation); see also DE 23 (Plea Agreement). Judge Atkins expressly informed Helton of her right to object to the recommendation and secure de novo review from the undersigned. See DE 22 at 2-3. The established three-day objection deadline has passed, and no party has objected.

The Court is not required to “review . . . a magistrate [judge]’s factual or legal conclusions, under a de novo or any other standard, when neither party objects to those findings.” Thomas v. Arn, 106 S. Ct. 466, 472 (1985); see also Berkshire v. Dahl, 928 F.3d 520, 530 (6th Cir. 2019) (noting that the Sixth Circuit has “long held that, when a defendant does ‘not raise an argument in [her] objections to the magistrate [judge]’s report and recommendation . . . [s]he has forfeited [her] right to raise this issue on appeal.’” (quote brackets simplified) (quoting Kensu v. Haigh, 87 F.3d 172, 176 (6th Cir. 1996))); United States v. Olano, 113 S. Ct. 1770, 1777 (1993) (distinguishing waiver and forfeiture); FED. R. CRIM. P. 59(b)(2)–(3) (limiting de novo review duty to “any objection” filed); 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) (limiting de novo review duty to “those portions” of the recommendation “to which objection is made”).

The Court, with no objection from any party and on full review of the record, ORDERS as follows:

  1. The Court ADOPTS DE 22, ACCEPTS Helton’s guilty plea, and ADJUDGES Helton guilty of Count One of the Indictment;
  2. The Court will issue a separate sentencing order.1

This the 4th day of August, 2026.

Signed By:

Robert E. Wier

United States District Judge

Notes

1
At the hearing, Judge Atkins remanded Helton to custody. See DE 21. This was her status pretrial. See DE 11. Absent an intervening order, Helton will remain in custody pending sentencing.