Dr. Mark Chavez of San Diego has pleaded guilty to illegally distributing ketamine in connection with the overdose death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry. Chavez, 54, faces up to 10 years in prison, while two others, including another doctor, are set to stand trial in March 2024.
One of two California doctors charged in the overdose death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry, Dr. Mark Chavez of San Diego, pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally distributing ketamine.
Chavez, who appeared in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, faces up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing set for April. Another doctor, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and co-defendant Jasveen Sangha, known as the "ketamine queen," have pleaded not guilty and are set to go to trial in March.
Perry's live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who admitted to injecting Perry with ketamine, and the alleged middleman who got the drug from Jasveen Sangha, have both pleaded guilty. Authorities said Dr. Plasencia bought ketamine from Dr. Chavez and, in text messages to Chavez, wrote: "I wonder how much this moron will pay" when discussing the price to charge Perry.
In court on Wednesday, Chavez, 54, stood at a podium and answered "yes, your honor" to several questions. He admitted obtaining ketamine through a fraudulent prescription for another patient, knowing it was meant for Perry. Chavez also acknowledged giving the drug to Plasencia and understood it should only be administered under medical supervision with proper safety equipment nearby.
Court documents reveal that Plasencia administered ketamine to Perry at the actor's home and provided vials later injected by the assistant. Plasencia’s lawyer maintains his client properly prescribed and administered the drug.
Perry, 54, died in October 2023 from the "acute effects" of ketamine and other factors that caused him to lose consciousness and drown in his hot tub, per a December 2023 autopsy. The actor had long acknowledged his struggles with substance abuse, including during his time on "Friends."
Chavez pleaded guilty in a deal with prosecutors, accepting lesser charges for cooperating against Plasencia and Sangha. "He has accepted responsibility. He is cooperating," said Chavez's attorney, Matt Binninger. Chavez has given up his medical license and remains free on bond until sentencing.
Lithuania on Tuesday declared a state of emergency due to threats to public safety from smuggled balloons originating in Belarus, the government said....
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 9th of December, covering the latest developments you need to ...
At a WHO supported malnutrition ward in Khartoum, doctors and mothers describe children arriving too weak to eat or drink as nearly three years of con...
Beijing has launched a scathing diplomatic attack on Tokyo, accusing Japan of exploiting the Taiwan issue to destabilise the region, following a dange...
Thailand says it carried out air and ground operations along the Cambodian border as hostilities escalated, breaking the U.S. brokered ceasefire that ...
A coup attempt by a “small group of soldiers” has been foiled in Benin after hours of gunfire struck parts of the economic capital Cotonou, officials said on Sunday.
A delayed local vote in the rural Honduran town of San Antonio de Flores has become a pivotal moment in the country’s tightest presidential contest, with both campaigns watching its results as counting stretches into a second week.
Authorities in Japan lifted all tsunami warnings on Tuesday following a strong 7.5-magnitude earthquake that struck off the northeastern coast late on Monday, injuring at least 30 people and forcing around 90,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
Lava fountains shot from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano from dawn to dusk on Saturday, with new footage showing intensifying activity at the north vent.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points after a tense season finale.
Netflix’s plan to buy Warner Bros marks a rare moment in Hollywood where scale, risk and ambition collide. The agreement, announced on 5 December, puts a price of roughly 82.7 billion dollars on one of the film industry's most influential studios.
American talk show host Oprah Winfrey has praised Australia's decision to ban social media for under-16s from next week, saying the move would help young people socialise more.
In a small town on the outskirts of Warsaw, lumps of glass are transformed into dazzling holiday decorations, as Silverado, a family-owned factory in Jozefow, polishes the tradition of mouth-blown Christmas ornaments, captivating buyers across the globe and spreading festive cheer.
Israel’s participation in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest will be discussed on Thursday (4 December), as the organising body, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) meet in Geneva to consider whether the country can compete amid threats from some nations to withdraw over the ongoing Gaza war.
The Louvre Museum in Paris on Tuesday unveiled renovated galleries showcasing 17th and 18th-century Italian and Spanish paintings and opened its new Gallery of the Five Continents.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment