Former NFL quarterback and present Fox Sports activities colour commentator Mark Sanchez, who was arrested for a number of misdemeanors following a bodily altercation this weekend, is now dealing with a felony cost of battery involving critical bodily harm, prosecutors in Indianapolis introduced.
The extra critical cost was added after investigators discovered of the severity of the sufferer’s accidents, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears stated at a information convention on Monday.
“This was a state of affairs that didn’t have to happen,” Mears stated.
New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez warms up earlier than an NFL soccer sport between the Jets and the Tennessee Titans, Dec. 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.
Wade Payne/AP
“The allegations contain a 38-year-old man changing into concerned in an altercation with a 69-year-old man who sustained vital and really critical accidents” over a dispute about parking, Mears stated.
Different costs are doable, Mears stated, noting they’re nonetheless in “the early phases of this investigation.”
Early Saturday morning, Sanchez allegedly approached a 69-year-old truck driver who was doing his assigned work at a lodge loading dock and “escalated a dispute in regards to the sufferer” parking there, in line with police and prosecutors. Sanchez allegedly climbed into the truck and stored the motive force from calling for assist earlier than a battle broke out, in line with courtroom information.
The sufferer stated Sanchez shoved him when he tried to get his cellphone, and he felt he was “in bodily hazard,” so he pepper-sprayed Sanchez, in line with courtroom paperwork.
When Sanchez allegedly superior towards him once more, the sufferer stated he thought, “this man is making an attempt to kill me,” so he pulled out a knife, “and when Mr. Sanchez got here at him,” the sufferer stabbed Sanchez a number of instances, in line with courtroom paperwork.
The sufferer stated he went “flying again into the dumpster and falling onto the pallets on the bottom,” and that he “was not conscious of what Mr. Sanchez was bodily doing to him, whether or not he was punching him or in any other case putting him,” courtroom doc stated. The sufferer stated he might solely see Sanchez’s toes “coming at him,” and as soon as the sufferer stood up, he stabbed Sanchez once more, the paperwork stated.
Mark Sanchez stands on the sidelines earlier than an NFL soccer sport between the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets, Dec. 17, 2012, in Nashville, Tenn.
Wade Payne/AP
The sufferer “suffered a extreme laceration to the aspect of his face, penetrating during his left cheek,” whereas Sanchez suffered a number of stab wounds to his torso, in line with courtroom paperwork.
A number of angles of surveillance footage captured the incident and witnesses have come ahead, Mears stated.
Sanchez was arrested on the hospital and initially charged with three misdemeanors: battery with harm, illegal entry of a motorized vehicle and public intoxication, police stated.
Sanchez has waived an preliminary courtroom listening to set for Tuesday for the misdemeanor costs. A pretrial convention listening to has been set for Nov. 4 for the up to date case.
The sentence for the felony cost could possibly be one to 6 years, Mears stated.
Mark Sanchez walks on the sphere earlier than an NFL soccer sport between the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dec. 5, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif.
Kyusung Gong/AP
Sanchez was in Indianapolis as a part of the broadcasting crew for Sunday’s sport between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Indianapolis Colts. He didn’t find yourself calling the sport.
Indianapolis Police Chief Christopher Bailey stated Monday, “I don’t care who you might be, I don’t care what you do for a dwelling. … If you happen to come into our metropolis, commit violence, we’ll use all of the instruments at our disposal to carry you accountable.”
Sanchez was the No. 5 total decide by the New York Jets in 2009 after main USC to a 12-1 document and victory over Penn State within the Rose Bowl. He led the Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship appearances in his first two seasons, however went simply 14-17 with 39 touchdowns and 36 interceptions in his subsequent two seasons.
He had transient stops in Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington, however by no means performed within the playoffs once more after his first two seasons.
ABC Information’ Ahmad Hemingway contributed to this report.
