One of two California doctors charged with the drug-related death of actor Matthew Perry has pled guilty.
On Wednesday, Dr. Mark Chavez, one of the five indicted in the overdose murder of the “Friends” star, admitted to illegally distributing the chemical ketamine.
It is a short-acting anesthetic that is also used to treat depression and relieve pain.
Perry died in October 2023 at the age of 54, according to an autopsy report, of the “acute effects” of ketamine and other variables that caused him to lose consciousness and drown in his hot tub.
Chavez made the plea at an appearance in Los Angeles’ United States District Court, and he faces up to ten years in prison when he is sentenced in April.
He pleaded guilty under an agreement with prosecutors, who offered him reduced charges in exchange for his assistance in their case against another physician charged in the case, Dr Salvador Plasencia, as well as co-defendant Jasveen Sangha, who authorities believe was an illegal supplier of the drug and was known as the “ketamine queen”.
“He’s accepted responsibility. “He is cooperating,” Perry’s attorney, Matt Binninger, told Reuters in court.
The 54-year-old is thought to have run a ketamine clinic and has been accused of distributing ketamine lozenges to Plasencia, who then gave them to Perry.
Chavez has also given up his medical license and is free on bail pending his sentencing.
Meanwhile, Plasencia and Sangha have pleaded not guilty, and their trial is set to begin in March.
In addition, Perry’s live-in personal aide, Kenneth Iwamasa, who admitted injecting the star with the substance, and an alleged middleman who claimed to have received ketamine from Sangha, have both pleaded guilty to the allegations.
According to Reuters, officials suspect Plasencia bought the medication from Chavez.
They stated that Iwamasa wrote in a text message to the doctor about the cost of the drug: “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Iwamasa has also acknowledged to giving Plasencia ketamine, although knowing it should only be administered under medical supervision and with suitable safety equipment present.
According to court filings, Plasencia gave Perry the ketamine at his house. He also supplied the vials used by Iwamasa.
However, the doctor’s lawyer has maintained that his client correctly prescribed and delivered ketamine to Perry.
Perry has a history of substance misuse, having used ketamine while playing Chandler Bing on the hit show alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer.
