Doctor charged in connection with Matthew Perry's death pleads guilty

A doctor charged in connection with the death of Friends star Matthew Perry has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute the drug ketamine. Dr Mark Chavez appeared in a Los Angeles court today, Wednesday October 2, to enter his plea.

He could face up to 10 years in prison. Perry was found dead at his home in Los Angeles, aged 54, on 28 October last year. The actor was taking ketamine six to eight times a day before he died, according to court documents.

Chavez's lawyer Matthew Binninger said after his first court appearance in August that he is "incredibly remorseful" and is "trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here".

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Speaking to reporters outside the court, Mr Binninger said that Chavez had “absolutely” shown remorse for his actions. “[He has] accepted responsibility, plead guilty, admitted a lot of facts on record, he’s cooperating with the government, he has already started the process of surrendering his medical licence. He is taking this incredibly seriously.”

Five people, including Dr Chavez, have been charged in connection with Perry's death. They also include Perry's live-in personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, another doctor named Salvador Plasencia, known as "Dr P", and Jasveen Sangha, who was referred to in documents as the "Ketamine Queen".

The ketamine supplied by Sangha was ultimately the dose that took Perry’s life, a Drug Enforcement Administrator previously claimed. Plasencia is facing a maximum sentence of 120 years in federal prison, while Sangha is facing life imprisonment.

During a previous court appearance, Plasencia denied conspiracy to distribute ketamine; seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two charges related to allegations he falsified documents during the investigation into Perry’s death.

Sangha also plead not guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine; maintaining a drug-involved premises; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine.

Perry, who played Chandler Bing in hit US sitcom Friends, died after receiving several injections of ketamine from his live-in assistant Iwamasa. Iwamasa plead guilty on August 7 to conspiring to distribute ketamine causing death – admitting to “repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training”. His sentencing has been set for November 6.

During the last few weeks of his life, Perry “turned to street dealer” Erik Fleming who is said to have sourced ketamine from Sangha. Fleming pleaded guilty on August 8 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He is set to be sentenced on October 30. Plasencia is currently on release after posting a 100,000 dollar (£78,000) bond, while a judge denied bond for Sangha.

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