One of the physicians charged in relation to the untimely death of actor Matthew Perry made a court appearance in Los Angeles on Friday, as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Dr. Mark Chavez appeared before the court and was released on a $50,000 bond.

Dr. Chavez has plans to plead guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry, who tragically passed away in October 2023 at the age of 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office autopsy report revealed that Perry's death was caused by the "acute effects" of the surgical anesthetic, followed by drowning. The actor's body was discovered floating face down in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home.

During the procedural hearing, Dr. Chavez acknowledged the charges against him and waived his right to a grand jury indictment. His attorney stated that he is expected to return to court in late October to formalize the plea agreement.

Dr. Chavez is one of five individuals who have been implicated in connection with Perry's death. Three of the accused are cooperating with prosecutors, who are primarily focusing on the cases against Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha. In court documents, prosecutors described Sangha's residence as a "drug-selling emporium." Plasencia and Sangha have pleaded not guilty to charges including falsifying medical records and conspiracy to distribute drugs, among others. They are scheduled to appear in court next week.

According to the allegations outlined against him, Dr. Chavez provided Plasencia with ketamine for Perry through a fraudulent prescription. His plea agreement revealed that Chavez, aged 54, received his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in 2004. His website advertises tailored health services, and he was previously associated with the clinic Dreamscape Ketamine.

The plea agreement states that Chavez took possession of prescription drugs, including ketamine, from the clinic after an argument with his business partner in July 2023. The partner, who was not a medical doctor, was the reason behind his decision. Prior to Perry's death, both the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Medical Board of California had initiated an investigation into Dr. Chavez after he falsely claimed that he transferred or disposed of the ketamine.

As part of the plea agreement, Dr. Chavez has surrendered his medical license. The court proceedings will continue as the investigation progresses, shedding light on the unfortunate circumstances surrounding Matthew Perry's tragic demise.