Former New York Jets quarterback Mark Sánchez is facing a serious felony charge. This charge comes from a stabbing incident in downtown Indianapolis. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced the news on Monday, October 6. Sánchez, who is 38 years old, now faces a Level 5 felony charge. If found guilty, he could spend one to five years in prison.
“We are literally talking about people fighting over a parking spot,” Mears explained during a Monday morning press conference. The situation began on Saturday, October 4. Sánchez was first accused of three lesser crimes: battery leading to injury, public intoxication, and illegally entering a motor vehicle. These charges stemmed from when he allegedly attacked a 69-year-old delivery driver. The incident happened in an alley outside an Indianapolis bar.
Indianapolis Police Chief Chris Bailey made it clear during the same press conference, “I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you do. I don’t care where you live. If you come to our city, commit violent acts, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold you accountable.” A news publication reached out to Sánchez’s lawyers for a statement.
Sánchez himself was stabbed during the fight. The other man involved claims he acted in self-defense. Sánchez faced the misdemeanor charges while he was in the hospital recovering from his injuries. The former NFL player is set to appear in court on Tuesday, October 7.
Sánchez was in Indianapolis to broadcast the Indianapolis Colts versus Las Vegas Raiders game on Sunday, October 5. The altercation happened between the Westin Hotel and the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The other man involved was identified as P.T. in police records. Surveillance video shows Sánchez approaching the 69-year-old delivery driver’s box truck. The truck was parked in the alley. The two men started talking, but their interaction quickly turned violent. The video shows them circling the truck before a fight broke out near a dumpster. Detectives reported that Sánchez threw the man toward the dumpster. A struggle continued between the delivery truck and a wall. Sánchez was also seen opening the driver’s side door of the truck and getting inside.
The alleged victim told authorities that Sánchez seemed drunk and smelled of alcohol. He claimed Sánchez said he had talked to the hotel manager, who supposedly told him the truck shouldn’t be parked there. When the delivery driver tried to call his supervisor, Sánchez allegedly blocked him. A source told Fox59 that Sánchez was speeding in the alley before the fight. Due to the incident, Sánchez was replaced by Brady Quinn in the broadcast booth for Sunday’s game.
Fox Sports released a statement about the incident on Saturday, before any charges were filed against Sánchez. “We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask everyone to respect his and his family’s privacy during this time.” The network also spoke about the news during its NFL broadcasts on Sunday. Studio host Charissa Thompson said, “Friday night in Indianapolis, one of our team members, Mark Sánchez, was involved in an incident that we are still trying to understand. At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and everyone involved.”