Matthew Perry's ketamine doctor pleads GUILTY to role in star's death

by · Mail Online

A California doctor has entered a guilty plea for his role 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 up to 10 years in prison, even with a plea deal. He will be sentenced on April 2, 2025.

Prior to Wednesday's court hearing, Chaves agreed to stop practicing medicine, and handed his passport to authorities.

Mark Chaves, 53, arrived at a Los Angeles court on Wednesday, where his legal team has 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 in October 23, after a long and well documented battle with addiction
He faces up to 10 years in prison, even with a plea deal

It's understood Chavez sold ketamine lozenges to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is accused of then providing them to Perry. 

Plasencia is facing separate charges, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Plasencia is accused of texting Chavez 'I wonder how much this moron will pay' when he learned Perry was seeking ketamine.

Prosecutors offered lesser charges to Chavez and two others in exchange for their cooperation as they go after two targets they deem more responsible for the overdose death: another doctor and an alleged dealer that they say was known as 'ketamine queen' of Los Angeles.

His lawyer 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 wrong that happened here.' 

Pictured: Chavez arriving at court on Wednesday
He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC´s megahit sitcom 
Perry was found dead by his assistant , and the medical examiner later ruled the primary cause of death was ketamine

Perry was found dead by his assistant, and the medical examiner later ruled the primary cause of death was ketamine. 

The actor had been using the drug through his regular doctor in a legal but off-label treatment for depression that has become 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 alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC´s megahit sitcom.