Doctor pleads guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine in connection with Matthew Perry's death

In a Wednesday court hearing in Los Angeles, Mark Chavez, one of the two doctors accused in relation to the death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry, entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine as part of a plea deal.

According to the terms of the deal, Chavez formally entered a guilty plea to conspiring to supply Perry with ketamine. Perry drowned after experiencing the "acute effects" of the anesthetic in October 2023, and the postmortem report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office states this.

During the hearing on Wednesday, Chavez formally announced his plea deal with the prosecution. Sentencing was scheduled for April 2, 2025 by the judge. The plea deal specifies a maximum suggested sentence of ten years in jail for Chavez.

In a Los Angeles court, Mark Chavez, 54, is scheduled to appear before Judge Jean Rosenbluth. According to his legal team, he will enter a plea of conspiracy to supply ketamine to Perry. Chavez may receive a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, even if he reached a plea agreement.

Records from the Medical Board of California show that Chavez's physician license had been suspended just days before he appeared in court, and he was not allowed to practice.

In August, an 18-count indictment was filed, and Chavez is among the five people facing charges related to Perry's unintentional overdose. In October 2023, the well-known actor was discovered dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles residence.

Chavez’s lawyer, Matthew Binninger, has said his client was “incredibly remorseful” and “accepting responsibility” for his patient’s overdose.

Additional charges in relation to Perry's demise include Erik Fleming, 54, a friend of the actor who the authorities referred to as a "street dealer," and Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, the actor's live-in personal helper. Both are awaiting punishment after entering guilty pleas. Jasveen Sangha, 41, a purported drug dealer dubbed the "ketamine queen," is also accused and has entered a not guilty plea.

Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, who the prosecution claims operated akin to "a drug selling emporium" out of her house, have both entered not guilty pleas to charges that include, among other things, conspiracy to distribute and fabricating medical records.

Prosecutors said Sangha and Plasencia will go to trial together. A preliminary hearing is set on February 19 and the trial is scheduled to start on March 4, 2025.

According to a coroner's report, Perry was receiving ketamine infusion therapy to address depression and anxiety. However, at the time of his death, the amount of ketamine in his body was dangerously high - around the same amount required for general anesthesia during surgery.