FRIENDS ARRESTED IN GIRL'S DEATH

Two 14-Year-Olds Accused Of Giving Her `Ecstasy' At Sleepover

Two 14-year-old girls were arrested Friday and will be charged with
providing the drug ``ecstasy'' to their friend Irma Perez, who died
Wednesday of an apparent overdose days after all three took pills
during a sleepover last weekend.

The girls also will be charged with willfully causing or permitting a
child to suffer, according to Eddie Thomas, a San Mateo County deputy
district attorney in charge of juvenile cases. Thomas said the charge
applies because help for Irma might have been summoned sooner.

In a related matter, someone on Thursday threatened to kill a Redwood
City girl, said Redwood City police Capt. Ron Matuszak. According to
the Redwood City police log, the person who made the threat believes
the girl, who was born in 1990, supplied ecstasy to Irma. Police are
investigating the threat, and it was unclear whether the girl is one
of the two arrested.

During the slumber party, Irma and the two girls apparently were
experimenting with ecstasy. Prosecutors believe a 20-year-old Belmont
restaurant host and a 17-year-old Carlmont High School senior were
involved in providing the girls with the drugs. The parents hosting
the sleepover on the 2500 block of Lincoln Avenue in Belmont
discovered Irma last Saturday morning and called for help. She was in
critical condition until her family took her off life support
Wednesday night.

One of the girls arrested Friday is believed to be the host parents'
daughter. On Friday afternoon, a woman inside the residence where the
sleepover took place did not answer the door.

Both girls are being held at Hillcrest Juvenile Hall, according to San
Mateo County prosecutors.

The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office has charged Antonio
Rivera Jr., a 20-year-old Belmont man, with seven felony counts,
including possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy with
intent to sell, and a misdemeanor for having less than one ounce of
marijuana.

Rivera's attorney, Charles Smith, said his client intends to plead not
guilty at his arraignment May 18. Smith declined to comment on the
allegations.

Eighteen-year-old Angelique Malabey of Redwood City also was charged
for allegedly aiding Rivera after he had allegedly committed a felony,
and Belmont police have arrested a 17-year-old boy for allegedly
supplying minors with ecstasy.

Juveniles can be imprisoned for as long as four years for furnishing
drugs and up to six more for failing to fulfill their obligation to
someone in pain, Thomas said. The 14-year-old girls will be arraigned
either Monday or Tuesday, he said, and the 17-year-old boy will appear
in court Thursday. The Mercury News is withholding the names of the
three suspects because they are juveniles.

Ralston Middle School, where Irma attended eighth grade, will hold a
memorial Monday from 7 to 8 p.m., for the school community only. It
will include a vigil, song, reflections and poems. ``I think it'll
really help the family see the outpouring of affection for her,''
Belmont-Redwood Shores Superintendent John McIntosh said.

The school district plans to hold an information night about drugs
for parents on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Carlmont High School.

Mercury News Staff Writer Kim Vo contributed to this report.