Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez has filed a guilty plea in connection with a near-fatal brawl in Indianapolis last October, according to court documents. The plea is awaiting acceptance by a judge, and sentencing is being sought for November 9 or 16.
Sanchez was arrested in October after being involved in a physical altercation with 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole, during which Sanchez sustained multiple stab wounds to his upper right torso. Tole also suffered injuries in the incident. Sanchez was in Indianapolis to cover a Colts game for Fox Sports when the incident occurred.
Following his arrest and release from the hospital, Sanchez was terminated from his role at Fox Sports in early November. He had been facing charges including battery causing serious injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication.
A police affidavit detailed that Sanchez, reportedly smelling of alcohol, accosted Tole, who had backed his truck into a hotel loading dock. Tole alleged that Sanchez entered his truck without permission and blocked him. Tole stated he then used pepper spray on Sanchez. When Sanchez advanced, Tole produced a knife in self-defense.
Tole, who has not been charged and claims self-defense, is suing Sanchez, Fox Sports, and a restaurant company in federal court. Filings in that civil case suggest Sanchez may have been under the influence of cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, and alcohol at the time of the incident. Sanchez's attorney has stated that these are allegations in a civil filing and not evidence, expressing a readiness to present facts and evidence at trial.
Sanchez's jury trial, initially scheduled for March 12, had been rescheduled five times, most recently for September 8. His attorneys have now requested that his plea deal be accepted and that he be sentenced on one of the November dates.