Matthew Perry’s ketamine doctor pleads GUILTY to role in Friends star’s death
A California doctor has entered a guilty plea for his role in Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose.
The beloved Friends actor was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, after a long and well-documented battle with addiction.
Mark Chaves, 53, arrived at an LA court on Wednesday where he formally pleaded guilty to illegally distributing ketamine. The judge accepted the plea.
He faces a prison sentence of up to ten years, even with a plea agreement. He will be sentenced on April 2, 2025.
Before Wednesday’s court hearing, Chaves agreed to stop practicing medicine and turned over his passport to authorities.
Mark Chaves, 53, arrived at a Los Angeles court on Wednesday, where his legal team indicated he will plead guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry.
The beloved Friends actor was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 23, after a long and well-documented battle with addiction.
He faces a prison sentence of up to ten years, even with a plea agreement
It is understood that Chavez sold ketamine lozenges to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is accused of then providing them to Perry.
Plasencia faces separate charges, to which he pleaded not guilty.
Plasencia is accused of sending Chavez a text message saying “I wonder how much this idiot will pay” when he heard Perry was looking for ketamine.
Prosecutors have offered Chavez and two others reduced charges in exchange for their cooperation in their search for two targets they consider more responsible for the overdose deaths: another doctor and an alleged dealer they say was known as the “ketamine queen” of Los Angeles.
His attorney Matthew Binninger said after Chavez’s first court appearance on Aug. 30 that he is “incredibly remorseful” and is “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrongs that happened here.”
In the photo: Chavez arrives at court on Wednesday
He starred for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004 alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer on NBC’s mega-hit sitcom.
Perry was found dead by his assistant, and the medical examiner later ruled that ketamine was the primary cause of death
Perry was found dead by his assistant, and the medical examiner later ruled that ketamine was the primary cause of death.
The actor used the drug through his regular doctor in a legal but off-label treatment for depression, which is becoming increasingly common.
Perry struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on “Friends,” when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing.
He starred for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004 alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer on NBC’s megahit sitcom.