Doctor sentenced to 30 months in Matthew Perry's overdose case
What's the story
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a California-based physician, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his role in the death of actor Matthew Perry. The sentence makes him the first person to be punished in connection with Perry's overdose case. Plasencia was among five individuals charged during a years-long federal probe into how Perry obtained ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic, from an underground drug network in Hollywood.
Family's plea
Perry's family sought 'lengthy sentence' for Plasencia
Perry's family, including his mother, Suzanne Morrison, requested a lengthy sentence for Plasencia. They described him as the "most culpable" in their struggle to understand why he repeatedly supplied drugs to Perry. In court, Morrison highlighted text messages from Plasencia that called Perry a "moron" and questioned how much he would pay for the drugs. She tearfully told Plasencia, "There was nothing moronic about that man," adding that he should have protected her son as his oath required.
Apology
Plasencia expressed remorse and apologized to Perry's family
Plasencia also spoke in court, expressing regret and remorse while his mother wept behind him. He said he wished to raise his two-year-old son right and was sorry for not protecting Perry. "I failed myself. There is no excuse... I should have protected him, as his mother said. I'm just so sorry." In addition to his prison term, he was also ordered by US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett to pay a $5,600 fine.
Guilty plea
Plasencia pleaded guilty to distributing ketamine
Plasencia pleaded guilty in the summer to four counts of distributing ketamine. The charges could have led to a maximum 40-year prison sentence, but prosecutors sought a three-year sentence. Four others implicated in the case, including another doctor and Perry's assistant, have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Family's grief
Perry's family expressed devastation over his loss
Perry's family said they were "devastated" by his death, calling it a loss of their "next patriarch." They blamed Plasencia for repeatedly breaking his Hippocratic oath. In their victim impact statement, Perry's mother and stepfather, Keith Morrison, described how difficult it has been to process the loss. They said Perry had spent time trying to recover and was hoping for another acting comeback before his untimely death. Meanwhile, Plasencia voluntarily surrendered his medical license upon arrest.