A doctor accused in the Matthew Perry case is facing ten years in prison. He has accepted to plead guilty soon.
One of the two doctors accused after the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry (1969-2023) has agreed to a settlement in the criminal case. According to US media reports, he will plead guilty in the next few weeks to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. A Justice Department official confirmed this on Friday (August 30). On that day, the doctor appeared in federal court in Los Angeles.
Doctor faces ten years in prison
The doctor is one of five people accused of procuring ketamine and supplying it to the actor. At the court hearing, he pleaded not guilty. However, he said he was willing to plead guilty at a later date. He was initially released on bail of 50,000 US dollars, the equivalent of around 45,200 euros, under certain conditions. He said he would give up his work as a doctor and would have to hand over his passport.
ABC News reported, citing information from the prosecution, that the defendant faces ten years in prison. His lawyer told reporters that his client “is doing everything in his power to cooperate, to help in this situation, and he is incredibly remorseful.” The doctor wants to help “right the wrong that has happened here.”
Of the five defendants, two have already pleaded guilty
In addition to the doctor, the defendants include another doctor, Perry’s assistant, a drug dealer and the director Erik Fleming. On August 8, Fleming pleaded guilty to the counts of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. A day later, Perry’s assistant also pleaded guilty to the latter count and to having injected Perry with ketamine several times on the day of his death without any medical background. The Justice Department filed this.
The actor, known from the cult series “Friends”, was found dead in his pool on October 28, 2023. He died of an overdose of the anesthetic at the age of only 54. To treat his depression and anxiety, he underwent infusion treatments with ketamine, the last of which is said to have taken place a week and a half before his death.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
