San Diego

Two men convicted of raping a 22-year-old woman in Balboa Park were sentenced Thursday to seven years in state prison.

Jose de Jesus Hernandez-Leyva, 24, and Manuel Ponce Renteria, 21, both illegal aliens, were sentenced by San Diego Municipal Judge Robert Stahl Jr. A third co-defendant, Gabriel Gutierrez, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced today.

All three pleaded guilty Oct. 18 to raping the Santee woman Aug. 22.

A fourth co-defendant, Michael DeLeon, now claims to be a juvenile. His case will also be heard today to determine whether he should be put on trial in Juvenile Court.

“There’s no question this woman had a terrifying experience,” said the judge. “This woman was brutally raped.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Wes Schermann asked for sentences of nine years for both men.

The two men were also fined $100 and ordered to register as sex offenders when they are released.

Two other juveniles allegedly involved in the rape have their cases pending in Juvenile Court.

The rape took place at 6:30 a.m. when the woman was forced at knifepoint into some bushes near the Laurel Street bridge.