Ecstasy death conspirator given lenient sentence

Malabey asked the court yesterday to modify the sentence to Bridges, a year-long drug treatment program administered by the county. She said she wanted the chance to finish high school and go back to work. She also admitted she needed to find a new group of friends.

Judge Carl Holm agreed, giving her three months in jail plus rehab, but not before admonishing Malabey one more time for her secondary role in covering up the death of 14-year-old Perez. Holm told Malabey she was also "morally responsible" for Perez's death.

Perez was declared legally dead April 28, five days after taking a double-stacked Ecstasy pill with two friends. Perez suffered a severe reaction as her brain swelled from oxygen deprivation and she eventually slipped into unconsciousness. Medical personnel were not called until early April 24 although the two other girls did call their 17-year-old drug dealer.

The dealer and Rivera were arrested that weekend. Rivera phoned Malabey, his date at a wedding the night Perez took the drug, and asked him to clean out his apartment before police could search it.

As part of her sentence, Malabey is barred from contacting Rivera or the four other defendants in the case. Although Malabey will be freed from jail as part of Bridges, she will still be monitored by an electronic anklet. If she fails to complete the program, she can be sent back to jail. She must also complete three years supervised probation.

Rivera is the only defendant facing state prison of up to eight years when he is sentenced Oct. 22. The 17-year-old faces involuntary manslaughter and a slew of drug charges but will be tried as a juvenile. The two girls both pleaded no contest to child endangerment charges and were sentenced to juvenile rehabilitation programs.