Matthew Perry's Doctor Mark Chavez Pleads Guilty to One Count in Ketamine Death Case

A doctor charged in the death of Matthew Perry has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine to the late Friends actor.

California physician Dr. Mark Chavez entered the plea during an appearance in a Los Angeles court Oct. 2, NBC News reported. Despite making a plea deal with prosecutors, he will still faces up to 10 years of prison when he is sentenced April 2, 2025, it was detailed in court.

As he awaits sentencing, the 54-year-old, who had already surrendered his passport, remains out on bond and agreed to no longer practice medicine, NBC News reported.

Chavez is one of five people charged in the death of Perry, who accidentally died in October 2023 of a "acute effects of ketamine" that helped lead him to drown in his hot tub, an December 2023 autopsy report showed. 

The physician had operated a ketamine clinic and sold ketamine lozenges to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who then distributed them to Perry and has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine in connection with the case, NBC News reported.

The Department of Justice had said in August Placensia allegedly exchanged text messages with Chavez to determine how much money they could get the actor—who had been open about his struggle with addiction—to spend on the drug, with Plasencia allegedly writing at one point, "I wonder how much this moron will pay."

Both physicians have also surrendered their registrations to write prescriptions, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed to E! News Aug. 19.

Placensia has entered a not guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Chavez’s lawyer, Matthew Binninger, had told reporters after his client's arraignment that month, "He is trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here. He is doing everything in his power to cooperate, to help in this situation, and he's incredibly remorseful."

The other three charged in connection with Perry’s death are his assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and friend Erik Fleming, who have pleaded guilty to ketamine-related charges and await sentencing, and Jasveen Sangha, an alleged drug dealer dubbed the "ketamine queen," who has pleaded not guilty.

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