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Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez plans to enter a guilty plea related to an altercation he had last fall outside a downtown Indianapolis hotel with a 69-year-old truck driver in which both men suffered severe injuries.
Attorneys for Sanchez filed a motion for the plea and sentencing Thursday in Marion Superior Court. The two-page document gives no indication to which charges he plans to plead guilty.
The document, signed by Sanchez attorneys James Voyles Jr. and Jennifer M. Lukemeyer, calls for a sentencing hearing in November. A jury trial in the case had been scheduled to begin Tuesday, Sept. 8. The trial had been rescheduled five times since it was initially set to begin in December. Sanchez and Fox Sports also face a civil lawsuit filed by the truck driver, Perry Tole.
Sanchez initially faced charges of felony battery resulting in serious bodily injury, unlawful entry to a motor vehicle and public intoxication. The charges are tied to a fight with Tole that occurred at about 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 4 when Sanchez was in the city to cover an NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders.
“This is a positive development,” Nick Sanchez Jr., Mark Sanchez’s brother and legal adviser, said in a written statement. “We are finalizing an agreement with the prosecutor’s office that provides a path toward resolving the state’s case. We’re also encouraged by the constructive conversations taking place regarding the related civil matter. There is real momentum toward bringing this entire chapter to a close.”
According to the original complaint, Tole was approached by Sanchez after Tole had parked at a loading dock area outside the Westin Hotel.
During their interaction, Sanchez entered Tole’s work truck without permission, blocking Tole and preventing him from contacting his manager, according to court documents. Sanchez is accused of shoving Tole, which began an altercation that left Tole with injuries to his head, jaw and neck, and Sanchez with stab wounds.
“We are pleased with the constructive and professional conversations we’ve had with Mr. Sanchez’s team,” attorney Matt Golitko, who represents Tole, said in a statement. “Our discussions have been productive and we’re on a positive path toward an agreement that will allow the parties to move forward. Mr. Tole appreciates the progress we have achieved and looks forward to an amicable resolution.”
Sanchez had a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He spent four seasons with the New York Jets and also played for Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington. He appeared on ABC and ESPN before joining Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021.
Fox Sports confirmed in November that Sanchez was no longer employed by the network. He was replaced by NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees. He joined Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021 after appearing on ABC and ESPN for two years.
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