A San Diego doctor pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony charge of conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine that led to the death of actor Matthew Perry.
Dr. Mark Chavez said he gave Dr. Salvador Plasencia 22 5-milliliter bottles of ketamine and nine ketamine lozenges that were eventually sold to Perry. Associated Press.
Chavez was originally charged in August along with four others, but was not placed in police custody. Today, a Los Angeles judge ruled that he will be released on bond until his sentencing date on April 2nd.
Chavez turned in his passport and surrendered his medical license.
“Mark has pleaded guilty and that is now public record,” Chavez's attorney, Matthew Binninger, told reporters outside the courthouse. “We will determine the sentence after acknowledging responsibility.”
Presiding Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett made it clear that she would not be bound by any plea bargain or agreement offered by prosecutors and could impose the maximum sentence allowed by law, 10 years in prison.
