Illegal immigrant pleads guilty in Oregon murder case Read Comments
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Alejandro Rivera Gamboa (left) and Javier Arellano Gamboa (right) SOURCE: Oregon City News
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Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 8:19 a.m.

Read more: National, Crime, Mexico

OREGON CITY, ORE. (AP) -- An illegal immigrant pleaded guilty to murdering a 15-year-old Texas girl visiting Oregon last year.

Alejandro Emeterio Rivera Gamboa admitted that — as he and his cousin attempted to rape Dani Countryman — he pressed his foot against the girl's throat and upper chest until she stopped moving.

He also pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse for moving Countryman's body to another apartment.

Gamboa's cousin, Javier Arellano Gamboa, is scheduled to go to trial in January.

Countryman died from strangulation July 28, 2007, after partying at an apartment complex in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie. Countryman had been in the state visiting her older sister, Ashley Countryman.

Rivera Gamboa won't be sentenced until after his cousin's case is resolved. According to the terms of a plea bargain, Rivera Gamboa will be sentenced to life in prison but will be eligible for parole after 35 years.

At Tuesday's hearing, Rivera Gamboa, speaking through an interpreter, apologized for his actions.

He admitted restraining Countryman as she resisted the sexual assault, but said the death was an accident that only happened because he was drunk.

Ashley Countryman attended the hearing, but did not speak.

Rivera Gamboa and his cousin are both Mexican nationals, and the case outraged those demanding a crackdown on illegal immigration.

The Oregonian newspaper reported last year that Rivera Gamboa pleaded guilty to two counts of drunken driving in November 2006.

He signed a plea agreement that stated he was not a U.S. citizen and was released without anyone in the criminal justice system notifying immigration authorities.

(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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2 Comments on this Story
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Feed 'em to the gators

Posted by Hailey F., Harlingen, Texas - Friday, September 19, 2008 at 7:56 a.m.

Everyday now you hear about some "illegal" committing a horrific crime on this side. Some of them we catch, we feed them well, we treat them medically better than most of us here, they tie up our legal system and then we flip the bill and give them a comfortable ride back home. No I don't want to pay $3.00 for a head of lettuce but is justice to much to ask for when it comes to the "BAD APPLES" that spoil the huge barrel? AND BOY DO THEY HAVE RIGHTS! When the hell did that happen? Hearing about some of the terrible things that are happening to my American partners is quite upsetting to any normal person YET, YET, YET you're going to have some civil rights person or group ALWAYS coming to their rescue. I say we put them in the bus as well. It's all getting out of hand, and it won't be long before some of us began to take matters into our own. It shall be called "shall defense". So here's a head up for those of you who HOUSE these terrorists, let your amigos know "we're coming and bringing hell with us". I am a latina and I approve of this message.

Reason why illegal immigrants are considered a threat to the United States!

Posted by L R, Brownsville - Thursday, September 18, 2008 at 1:58 p.m.

All those who avoid the US Border Custom Agents have some thing to hide (look at these two). Only come to the US to cause violence. They should be considered terrorist because they instill terror to US citizen. Why do you think many White folk try to avoid a Latinos. They give Latinos a bad name.

I am a Latino, but again tired of all the talk of giving illegal immigrants US rights. I firmly belive that if anyone wants to be a US citizen straight from Mexico they should be forced to participate in the US War with Iraq to show their alegance to this coutry. If they do then the person should be given all US rights. If illegals are caught in the US then they should mandatory face sentenced to attend the War or back to Mexico.
I also don't get the people who live here in the US and are proud mexicans by posting mexican flags or stickers. They pledge no alegance to the US, Just like Barack Hussien Obama.
Anyway, illegal immgrants think living in the US is easy, but it isn't if you have a low wage job. Barely making ends meat with four or more children to feed is called poverty so they should just stay in their own country.

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