Last 2 Sentenced in Strangling of Texas Teenager During Drug-Fueled Orgy

OREGON CITY, Ore. – The last two defendants have been sentenced in a drug-fueled orgy that ended with the strangling death of a 15-year-old Texas girl.

By the time of Tuesday's sentencing, the case had played a role in the national debate over illegal immigration and crime. In addition, Clackamas County has adopted new policies and now alerts federal immigration authorities about all illegal immigrants charged with crimes.

Circuit Judge Robert Selander sentenced Alejandro Emeterio Rivera Gamboa and his cousin, Gilberto Javier Arellano Gamboa to prison for their roles in Dani Countryman's death.

Rivera Gamboa, 26, was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 35 years. He earlier pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and abuse of a corpse.

Arellano Gamboa, 25, pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted first-degree sexual abuse and hindering prosecution. He will serve five years, 10 months in prison.

Both are in the country illegally and will be deported to Mexico after they have served their sentences.

Both defendants apologized, speaking through interpreters.

Court documents say Countryman was ending a monthlong Oregon visit with her sister Ashley in July 2007, when they attended an alcohol and marijuana-fueled party south of Milwaukie.

Countryman eventually wound up in a neighboring apartment with Arellano Gamboa and Rivera Gamboa. By all accounts, Countryman was attracted to Arellano Gamboa.

But after they began to have sex, she apparently had second thoughts and began to fight him off. That's when Rivera Gamboa placed his foot on her throat and stepped down hard, killing her.

The men dumped her lifeless body, covered with a blanket, on the floor among the passed-out partygoers. When her sister returned the next morning, she found Dani dead.

Others who took part in the orgy have been convicted of various lesser crimes.

After the girl's death, it was revealed that Rivera Gamboa had been convicted of drunken driving but not deported. Clackamas County authorities then sifted through 700 drunken driving cases and found 62 defendants who were not U.S citizens. The names were sent to federal immigration officials for review. As well, District Attorney John Foote began reporting all foreign-born non-U.S. citizens accused of breaking the law.