07/03/2009

Associated Press

A woman who bought 180 cans of beer for an underage party will spend the same number of days under house arrest after pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide in the death of a teenager killed in a car crash.

Roberta Tamcke, 33, of Klamath Falls was also sentenced this week to three years probation, and she must undergo alcohol treatment and educate others about the dangers of alcohol.

"You're going to have to stay away from alcohol. You're going to have to convince others it's in their best interest to stay away from alcohol and drugs," Klamath County Judge Richard Rambo told her. "It's up to you now to follow through."

Tamcke, using money she was given by a boy, bought the beer for a party for she did not attend. A young man who did go, 18-year-old Emilio Alfaro, struck a telephone pole while driving drunk shortly after leaving the Feb. 28 party.

It's believed to be the first time in Oregon that an adult has pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide because of such circumstances. Officials hope the case will stop other adults from buying alcohol for youth.

The case doesn't technically set a legal precedent, which requires an appeal to higher court and a written opinion.

"What it does do, I hope, is give other DAs around the state confidence there is community support for such a charge and they can see another county has been successful," said District Attorney Ed Caleb of Klamath County.

Tamcke apologized to Alfaro's family in court, saying she knows it's not fair that they lost a son and she'll get to keep raising her own kids.

At least 16 teenagers who attended the party were charged with being minors in possession of alcohol.

"I hope kids at that party remember my son," Alfaro's father, Jose Alfaro, said after hearing the sentence that he felt was too lenient.

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Information from: Herald and News, http://www.heraldandnews.com