Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez is facing an additional charge for his alleged involvement in a violent altercation in Indianapolis early Saturday morning.
Sanchez, 38, had initially been arrested and charged with several misdemeanors during the weekend after he was hospitalized with a stab wound. On Monday, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced in a press conference that his office filed a charge against Sanchez for Level 5 felony battery.
‘We received an amended, or an additional probable cause affidavit this morning,’ Mears said. ‘With that additional information, we have added more serious charges against Mr. Sanchez. At this point in time, we have filed a felony charge, a Level 5 felony of battery involving serious bodily injury.’
If convicted of the felony, Sanchez would face a sentence between 1 to 6 years.
According to an affidavit obtained by multiple outlets, including USA TODAY Sports, Sanchez allegedly threw a 69-year-old man into a wall and onto the ground in an altercation early Saturday morning. The man told the police in a statement that he feared for his life and used his knife in self defense, according to the affidavit.
Sanchez was in Indianapolis to announce the Indianapolis Colts game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. He was reported to be in stable condition after he was hospitalized for the stab wound.
In the network’s pregame show, ‘Fox NFL Sunday,’ host Curt Menefee addressed Sanchez’s hospitalization and arrest in a statement.
‘One of our team members, Mark Sanchez, was involved in an incident that, to be honest, we’re all still trying to wrap our heads around. At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, his family and all those involved.’
Fox NFL analyst Brady Quinn stepped in for Sanchez to announce Sunday’s game after the incident.
Sanchez was the No. 5 overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2009 NFL Draft after playing his collegiate career at Southern California. He retired in 2019 after stints with five other teams and joined Fox as an NFL analyst in 2021.