Doctor Charged in Matthew Perry Death Released on $50K Bond, Expected to Plead Guilty

Dr. Mark Chavez, one of the doctors implicated in Matthew Perry’s death due to “the acute effects of ketamine” last year, has been ordered to be released on a $50,000 bond, USA TODAY has confirmed.

On Friday, the San Diego-based doctor appeared in federal court in Los Angeles. During the arraignment, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jean Rosenbluth allowed Chavez to be freed on a $50,000 bond. Conditions of his release include the surrender of his passport and medical license, according to NBC News, CBS News, and The Associated Press.

USA TODAY has contacted Chavez’s attorney for comment.

Chavez, who previously operated a ketamine clinic, faces one charge of conspiring to distribute ketamine. Earlier this month, he signed a plea agreement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office and is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks.

According to court documents, Chavez illegally obtained ketamine that was sold to Perry by presenting false information and writing a prescription without an unnamed patient’s consent. U.S. attorneys allege he fraudulently obtained a total of 22 vials of ketamine and nine ketamine lozenges, which were sold to Perry through another doctor, Dr. Salvador Plasencia.

Five individuals have been charged in relation to Perry’s death, and two of them—Perry’s assistant and a man who admitted to distributing the ketamine—have already entered guilty pleas.

Perry, who was open about his struggles with addiction, died at his Los Angeles-area home on Oct. 28 after being found unconscious in his jacuzzi. His live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, made the 911 call.

More than a month later, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office ruled Perry’s death an accident, with the primary cause being “the acute effects of ketamine.”

Outside the courthouse on Friday, Chavez and his lawyer, Matthew Binninger, addressed questions from media outlets. “He’s incredibly remorseful, not just because it happened to Matthew Perry, but because it happened to a patient,” Binninger said, according to the AP. “He’s trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here. He didn’t accept responsibility today, but only because it wasn’t on the calendar.”

“He’s doing everything in his power to cooperate and help with this situation,” he added. When asked what message they would convey to Perry’s family, Binninger responded, “I’m afraid I can’t answer that question other than to say that we’re incredibly sorry that someone lost their life. It doesn’t matter that he was a famous celebrity, and I know that he was incredibly universally loved by all. It’s a shame at what happened.”

Leading up to Perry’s death, Iwamasa purchased at least $55,000 worth of ketamine for the actor, attorneys have said. He pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Erik Fleming, described as Perry’s acquaintance, admitted he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry. On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to two charges: conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

Officials allege Jasveen Sangha sold Fleming the ketamine that led to Perry’s death. Sangha, referred to as the “The Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood in U.S. attorneys’ filings, faces nine criminal charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distribution of ketamine resulting in death, and maintaining a drug-involved “stash house.”

Sangha has pleaded not guilty to all counts. Sangha and Plasencia are accused of “distributing ketamine to Perry during the final weeks of the actor’s life.” Plasencia, who allegedly obtained ketamine that he sold to Perry from Chavez, faces 10 total criminal counts and has pleaded not guilty.

Plasencia, who operates Malibu Canyon Urgent Care in Calabasas, California, will be returning to his practice, his attorney informed USA TODAY on Aug. 21.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Doctor charged in Matthew Perry’s death released on $50,000 bond, expected to plead guilty

Source: USA TODAY, NBC News, CBS News, The Associated Press