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.