3 teens to stand trial
on perjury charges

YUBA CITY (4/25/03) -- Three teenagers must stand trial on charges they lied to a grand jury investigating the Ecstasy-related death of Nicole Ann Crowder, 17, a Sutter County judge has ruled.

Frank Soucek Jr., Brian Skousen and Yousef Nassiri, all 18, must return to court May 19 for a hearing to set a trial date, Judge Robert Damron ordered Thursday.

Damron's decision came after a contentious preliminary hearing in which the prosecution claimed the three defendants made false statements under oath about their own drug use at the party and from whom they received the drugs.

Defense attorneys vigorously argued that the state lacked sufficient evidence to bring the charges.

Some of the disputed statements were no more than innocent recollections, Nassiri's attorney Justin Scott contended.

Crowder died April 27, 2002 following a party at the Yuba City home Tomio A. Izumi, 19.

Forensic experts later concluded Crowder died from ingesting the designer drug Ecstasy, which she allegedly received at the event.

Investigators have yet to determine how Crowder came to possess the drugs.

For the Sacramento Bee