A doctor convicted for his role in the supply of ketamine connected to the death of actor Matthew Perry has been sentenced to home confinement, narrowly avoiding a potential prison sentence of up to ten years.
Sentencing and Charges in the Perry Case
Dr Mark Chavez was sentenced on Tuesday to eight months of home confinement after pleading guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He is the second physician to be convicted in the criminal fallout from the Friends star's fatal overdose in October 2023.
Chavez admitted to selling fraudulently obtained ketamine to another doctor, Salvador Plasencia. Prosecutors stated that this ketamine was subsequently sold to Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his death. While neither doctor supplied the specific dose that caused Perry's death, both were aware of his history of substance abuse and that the drug would be used without medical supervision.
Chilling Evidence and a Harsher Sentence for Accomplice
The case was partly built on damning text messages between the two doctors. In one exchange discussing how much to charge Perry, Plasencia wrote to Chavez: "I wonder how much this moron will pay."
This message was highlighted in a powerful victim impact statement submitted to the court by Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison. He condemned the actions, writing of the doctor who "conspired to break his most important vows" to "feed on the vulnerability of our son."
Earlier this month, Dr Salvador Plasencia received a far harsher sentence of 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Matthew Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. He was 54. The official cause of death was an overdose of ketamine combined with drowning.
Chavez is one of five individuals charged in the events leading to Perry's death. Sentencing is still pending for three others:
- Perry's live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa
- Alleged drug dealer Erik Fleming
- Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the 'Ketamine Queen'
All three are expected to face judgment in the coming weeks as the legal repercussions of the case continue to unfold.
