Mark Chavez, one of the two doctors charged in connection with “Friends” star Matthew Perry’s death, pleaded guilty to a drug charge as part of a plea agreement in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine as part of the agreement. Perry died in October 2023 as a result of “acute effects” of the drug, which led to subsequent drowning, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy report. Perry was 54-years-old at the time of his death.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Chavez entered into a formal plea agreement with prosecutors. The judge set his sentencing for April 2, 2025.
Dr. Mark Chavez of San Diego — one of two California doctors who were among the five people charged in the overdose death of ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry — pleaded guilty to illegally distributing the drug ketamine https://t.co/j3CV8CL5MF pic.twitter.com/SRaVqeHOCO
— Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) October 3, 2024
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Chavez is facing up to 10 years in prison, which is the maximum recommended sentence outlined in the plea agreement.
Chavez is accused of providing Dr. Salvador Plasencia — who has pleaded not guilty to his own charges in connection with Perry’s death — with the ketamine that was provided to Perry through a fraudulent prescription, according to court documents.
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Plasencia and Chavez are among five people facing charges in connection with the star actor’s death. Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and an acquaintance of Perry’s, Erik Fleming, were also charged. Like Chavez, Iwamasa and Fleming have been cooperative with prosecutors.
Fleming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, while Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Both men have sentencing dates schedules for the coming months.
The fifth defendant, Jasveen Sangha, has been accused by prosecutors of running “a drug selling emporium” in her home. Like Plasencia, she has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges, including falsifying medical records and conspiracy to distribute among others.
Prosecutors have stated that Sangha and Plasencia will be tried together. The trial is currently scheduled to begin on March 4, 2025, while a pretrial hearing is scheduled for February 19.
