In a significant development in the case surrounding the death of beloved 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry, a Los Angeles doctor was sentenced on Wednesday. Dr Carlos Plasencia admitted to supplying ketamine to the actor, leading to emotional victim impact statements from Perry's grieving family in court.
Family's Heart-Wrenching Statements in Court
The sentencing hearing was marked by raw and powerful testimonies from Matthew Perry's family. His half-sister, Madeline Morrison, spoke through tears, stating, "My brother's death turned my world upside down. It punched a crater in my life." She poignantly reminded the court that celebrities are not objects, saying, "He was everyone's favorite friend… celebrities are not plastic dolls that you can take advantage of. They're people…with families."
Perry's mother, Suzanne Perry, directly addressed Dr Plasencia, who had referred to her son as a "moron" in court filings. With her husband, journalist Keith Morrison, by her side, she countered, "You called him a moron. There is nothing moronic about that man. He was even a successful drug addict." She grew emotional, concluding, "This was a bad thing you did!"
The Case and the Sentence
Prosecutors outlined that while the 54-year-old Perry was legally receiving ketamine for depression treatment, his regular doctor refused to provide the large quantities he later sought. This led him to Dr Carlos Plasencia. The court heard that Plasencia saw Perry as someone he could exploit for money.
Dr Plasencia, who pleaded guilty in July to four counts of ketamine distribution, broke down during the hearing. He apologised to Perry's family, saying, "I should have protected him." He added that he would one day have to tell his own son about his failure to protect "another mother's son."
Prosecutors had sought a three-year sentence, while the defence asked for a single day in custody plus probation. The judge, however, imposed a sentence that exceeded the probation office's recommendation of 8 to 14 months. Assistant US attorney Ian Yanniello argued Plasencia was not a careless medical professional but "a drug dealer in a white coat," a characterisation the judge agreed with, noting he was actively offering to sell ketamine.
Legal Nuances and Future Proceedings
An interesting legal point arose when the judge noted that technically, "there is no identifiable victim in this case. The victim is the public." Despite this, she allowed the Perry family to deliver their impact statements after the defence raised no objection.
Dr Carlos Plasencia is the first of five defendants to be sentenced in this case. It is important to note that he did not plead guilty to causing Matthew Perry's 2023 death. The remaining four defendants, who have also pleaded guilty, will face separate sentencing hearings in the coming months.
Outside the courtroom, Plasencia's mother apologised on her son's behalf to the Perry family, telling reporters, "I'm feeling what they feel." Keith Morrison later commented that he believed the judge's decision was "very well-reasoned."
