Matthew Perry Case Update: Second Doctor Sentenced Following Guilty Plea
The legal fallout from Matthew Perry’s tragic 2023 death continues to unfold, with the second physician involved in the case receiving sentencing after entering a guilty plea. The latest development sheds further light on how illicit drug distribution contributed to the circumstances around the actor’s fatal ketamine overdose.
Home Confinement for Second Doctor in Perry Case
According to ABC News, Dr. Mark Chavez, a San Diego-based physician, was sentenced on December 16, 2025, to eight months of home confinement, marking a significant step in the ongoing legal proceedings related to Perry’s death. In addition to house arrest, Chavez was also ordered to complete 300 hours of community service and will serve three years of supervised release under the sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett.
Chavez, 55, submitted a guilty plea in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine—an illegal narcotic that federal prosecutors say played a critical role in supplying Perry with the drug in the weeks leading up to his death. In connection with his plea agreement, Chavez surrendered his medical license and cooperated with investigators.
Details of the Guilty Plea and Charges
Chavez’s guilty plea was entered as part of a sweeping federal investigation that identified five individuals connected to Perry’s fatal overdose in October 2023. The actor was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home at age 54, with acute effects of ketamine cited as a primary contributing factor.
According to court records, Chavez obtained ketamine by submitting a fraudulent prescription in the name of an unsuspecting patient and then sold it to another doctor, Dr. Salvador Plasencia. Plasencia, the first doctor to be sentenced in the case, was sentenced earlier in December to 30 months in federal prison for his role in distributing ketamine to Perry.
While Chavez did not supply the exact batch of ketamine that caused Perry’s death, prosecutors highlighted his involvement as part of a broader conspiracy to distribute the drug. As part of his guilty plea, Chavez admitted that his actions facilitated Plasencia’s access to ketamine, which was ultimately used by Perry despite not being medically supervised.
Reactions from Court and Defense
Speaking outside the federal courthouse, ABC7 News reports Chavez expressed sympathy for the Perry family, saying, “My heart goes out to the Perry family,” and thanked his own family for their support throughout the process. His attorneys emphasized that he had “accepted responsibility at the earliest stage” of the investigation and underscored his cooperation as a factor in receiving a more lenient sentence.
Defense counsel Matthew Binninger described the outcome as reflective of Chavez’s acceptance of responsibility, while another attorney noted the doctor’s cooperation and remorse, suggesting the sentence balanced accountability with the unique circumstances of his case.
Wider Case Status and Remaining Sentencings
Chavez’s sentencing comes shortly after the sentencing of Dr. Plasencia and amid other pending hearings for individuals tied to Perry’s death. Those include Perry’s former assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and drug dealer Erik Fleming, who have both entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing dates in early 2026. Jasveen Sangha, nicknamed the “Ketamine Queen,” has also pleaded guilty and faces sentencing later in 2026.
The broader legal proceedings highlight the complex network of individuals whose actions intersected in the tragic end of Perry’s life and underscore the legal consequences of illicit drug distribution within high-profile medical and personal circles.
