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Oregon prosecutors could soon get their hands on a Rio Rancho man they say may have killed one woman and brutalized at least two more now that his long-delayed Albuquerque rape case has reached its bizarre conclusion.

Joel Patrick Courtney, who authorities call a serial sexual sadist, was sentenced Tuesday in Albuquerque to 18 years in prison for the November 2004 rape and kidnapping of a University of New Mexico exchange student.

In addition, Courtney, 41, will have to register as a sexual offender once he leaves the prison system.

But to the end, Courtney made several attempts to halt Tuesday's proceedings, including feigning illness, trying to fire his attorney and renege on his plea and insulting the judge.

"I have no respect for this court," Courtney told state District Judge Kenneth Martinez. "This is, you are the rudest person I ever met. I would spit in your face if I was close enough."

Martinez scowled but appeared unfazed, denying every last-ditch motion filed by Courtney and his beleaguered attorney, John McCall, who was not allowed to withdraw from the case.

"I do believe, sir, you are attempting to delay this matter," Martinez told Courtney.

Tuesday's sentencing clears the way for Oregon authorities to seek Courtney's extradition to Corvallis, Ore., where he will face murder and a host of other charges for the May 2004 disappearance and presumed death of a visiting 19-year-old Brigham Young University student, Brooke Wilberger.

Benton County (Ore.) District Attorney John Haroldson, who attended Tuesday's proceedings, said he expected to apply today for a governor's warrant with the goal of having Courtney back in Oregon within 90 days.

Courtney has also been indicted on attempted kidnapping and attempted murder charges involving two Oregon State University students who say they were approached by Courtney the same day Wilberger disappeared.

Haroldson said he could not comment on reports that Courtney could face charges involving other victims as well, saying the investigation is ongoing.

FBI officials have said Courtney could be responsible for attacks on other young women — typically blonde and blue-eyed — across five states, including New Mexico.

Wilberger's fate might have been the UNM student's as well were it not for what prosecutor Theresa Whatley called the then-22-year-old student's "amazing presence of mind" during her attack.

That included keeping her legs apart while Courtney bound them with shoestring so that she was able to free herself when the string slackened.

The student's husband, who spoke in court on his wife's behalf, said they had been married for six months when Courtney stalked his wife, forced her into a car at knifepoint, tore off her clothes, tied her up, attempted to force-feed her cocaine and raped her before she escaped.