CityDeputies failed to report illegal immigrant's status, lawsuit says
by Steve Mayes
Thursday August 13, 2009, 6:00 PM

OREGON CITY -- The family of a Texas girl murdered in 2007 is suing Clackamas County, claiming law enforcement officers knew her killer illegally entered the United States and failed to report him to immigration authorities.

The estate of Dani Countryman is seeking $3.5 million in damages, according to the Clackamas County Circuit Court filing.


Countryman, 15, died during a sexual assault July 28, 2007, after an all-night party at an Oak Grove apartment complex. She was in Oregon visiting relatives.

Edward S. McGlone III, assistant Clackamas County counsel, declined to comment on the complaint.

Alejandro Emeterio "Alex" Rivera Gamboa, 26, was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 35 years. He attempted to subdue Countryman, fatally choking her, as his cousin, Gilberto Javier "Gabe" Arellano Gamboa, tried to rape her.

Arellano Gamboa, 25, was sentenced to five years, 10 months in prison.

Both men were in the country illegally and will be deported to Mexico after serving their sentences.

The lawsuit claims that a Clackamas County probation officer and unnamed sheriff's office employees failed to report Rivera Gamboa to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Oregonian reported that Rivera Gamboa pleaded guilty to 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.

--Steve Mayes; stevemayes@news.oregonian.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascoun ... _ille.html