LOS ANGELES — One of two doctors charged in connection with Matthew Perry's death made his first appearance in a federal court in Los Angeles on Friday after reaching a deal to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors.

Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego, stood in court with his lawyer and told a judge he understood his rights. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jean P. Rosenbluth told him he could remain free on bond with several restrictions, including turning over his passport and not working as a doctor. He has agreed to turn over his medical license.

Chavez signed an agreement with prosecutors earlier this month to plead guilty to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine. He did not enter his guilty plea or speak about the case, which he will do with another judge at a date to be determined.

“He's incredibly remorseful, not just because it happened to Matthew Perry, but because it happened to a patient,” Chavez's lawyer Matthew Binninger said outside court with the doctor standing at his side. “He's trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here. He didn't accept responsibility today, but only because it wasn't on the calendar.”

Binninger added, “He's doing everything in his power to cooperate and help with this situation.”

Asked what he and Chavez would say to Perry's family, Binninger said, “I’m afraid I can’t answer that question other than to say that we’re incredibly sorry that someone lost their life. It doesn’t matter that he was a famous celebrity, and I know that he was incredibly universally loved by all. It’s a shame at what happened.”

Chavez would be the third person to plead guilty in the aftermath of the “Friends” star’s fatal overdose last year.

Chavez also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as they pursue others, including the doctor Chavez worked with to sell ketamine to Perry. Also working with the U.S. Attorney's Office are Perry’s assistant, who admitted to helping him obtain and inject ketamine, and a Perry acquaintance, who admitted to acting as a drug messenger and middleman.

The three are helping prosecutors as they go after their main targets: Dr. Salvador Plasencia, charged with illegally selling ketamine to Perry in the month before his death, and Jasveen Sangha, a woman who authorities say is a dealer who sold the actor the lethal dose of ketamine. Both have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial. They are set to appear in court for a status conference on Wednesday.

Chavez admitted in his plea agreement that he obtained ketamine from his former clinic and from a wholesale distributor where he submitted a fraudulent prescription.

After a guilty plea, he could get up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced.

Perry was found dead by his assistant on Oct. 28. The medical examiner ruled ketamine was the primary cause of death. The actor had been using the drug through his regular doctor in a legal but off-label treatment for depression that has become increasingly common.

Seeking more ketamine than his doctor would give him, about a month before his death Perry found Plasencia, who in turn asked Chavez to obtain the drug for him.

“I wonder how much this moron will pay,” Plasencia texted Chavez. The two met up the same day in Costa Mesa, halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, and exchanged at least four vials of ketamine.

After selling the drugs to Perry for $4,500, Plasencia asked Chavez if he could keep supplying them so they could become Perry’s “go-to.”

Perry struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on “Friends,” when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC’s megahit sitcom.

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Leah Remini, Angelo Pagán split after 2 decades of marriage

Leah Remini and Angelo Pagán are filing for divorce after more than two decades of marriage and nearly 30 years together.

The “King of Queens” star, 54, and “Bosch: Legacy” actor, 56, announced the news Thursday night in a joint Instagram post.

“Well, here we are. After 28 years together and 21 years of marriage, we have decided to file for divorce,” said Remini and Pagán, — whose relationship was highlighted on their TLC series, “It’s All Relative.”

“This decision came after a lot of thought and care, and as hard as divorce is, we are approaching this with a positive outlook because we know it’s what’s best for us,” they said. “Yes, we’re sad, and we’ve got some figuring out to do as we continue to move forward into our new normal — together still in many ways, and apart in some new ones.”

Noting they’ve “been best friends for so many years,” the former couple said they are “still celebrating holidays together, watching our favorite TV shows together, and gathering as a family.”

As for what led to their split, the Emmy winning “Scientology and the Aftermath” producer and Pagán said they “both changed, as people do, and we got used to playing roles that didn’t fit us anymore.

“Our bond is still strong — it’s just evolved into something different,” said Remini and Pagán. “We think a marriage that lasted this long and created so many beautiful memories, especially raising our incredible daughter, is something to celebrate. From our perspective, this marriage was a huge success. … We hope our journey can inspire others to see that relationships — whether they change or end — aren’t failures.”

Remini and Pagán — who also appeared in several “King of Queens” episode — met in 1996 and wed in 2003, becoming a family of three with the June 2004 arrival of daughter Sofia Bella. Remini was also stepmom to Pagán’s three sons from a prior relationship, per People.

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‘DWTS’ pro Artem Chigvintsev arrested for alleged domestic violence

Longtime “Dancing With the Stars” pro Artem Chigvintsev was arrested Thursday morning in California on suspicion of domestic violence.

According to online intake records, Chigvintsev was booked at Napa County Jail at 10:40 a.m. local time for violating California penal code 273.5(a), felony corporal injury of a spouse, about 40 minutes after he was arrested in the town of Yountville.

His bail was set at $25,000. He was released at 2:18 p.m. local time, according to county records.

Henry Wofford, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, told the New York Daily News the Napa County district attorney will ultimately determine the exact charges after gathering more information. Wofford said the investigation is ongoing.

It has not been confirmed that Chigvintsev’s wife, former WWE star Nikki Garcia, was specifically involved in the incident. However, she posted an Instagram Story on Wednesday about being in Napa Valley, where the two own a home.

“The victim has asked for confidentiality,” Wofford said.

Sources close to the investigation told TMZ that paramedics were first called to the scene around 8:30 a.m. for reports of a “medical emergency,” but that call was canceled as first responders were on their way.

It’s unclear who placed that call, or why the request was canceled.

Deputies later arrived shortly before 10 a.m. and arrested Chigvintsev at the scene, a rep for the sheriff’s office told the outlet. Visible injuries were reportedly seen on the alleged victim.

Chigvintsev and Garcia, better known in the wrestling world as Nikki Bella, had just celebrated their second wedding anniversary earlier this week, and marked the occasion by sharing Instagram posts featuring photos and videos from their big day.

The couple, who married in 2022, met after being paired up on season 25 of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2019.

They share 4-year-old son Matteo.

From combined wire services