A doctor who gave Matthew Perry ketamine in the month before the actor died pleaded guilty Wednesday.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine, the Associated Press reported.
Plasencia is now the fourth person out of the five charged to plead guilty in connection with Perry’s overdose death on Oct. 28, 2023.
A trial for the doctor, 43, was scheduled to be in August.
“Dr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry,” his attorney, Debra White, said in an emailed statement. “He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution. Dr. Plasencia intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license, acknowledging his failure to protect Mr. Perry, a patient who was especially vulnerable due to addiction.”
In consideration for the guilty pleas, prosecutors dropped three additional counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsifying records.
Prosecutors noted the doctor did not sell Perry the dose that ultimately killed him.
Plasencia now faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, but is likely to get less time.
He will remain free until he is sentenced Dec. 3.
“While Dr. Plasencia was not treating Mr. Perry at the time of his death, he hopes his case serves as a warning to other medical professionals and leads to stricter oversight and clear protocols for the rapidly growing at-home ketamine industry in order to prevent future tragedies like this,” the lawyer’s statement read.
Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors said is a drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen,” remains the sole defendant who has not pleaded guilty.
She is charged with selling the “Friends” actor the lethal dose.
Sangha, who has pleaded not guilty, is heading to trial next month.
