Ex-QB Mark Sanchez now facing felony charge for altercation - ESPN

Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez is facing a felony battery charge over an altercation between the former NFL quarterback and a 69-year-old truck driver early Saturday in Indianapolis.

Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears announced the upgraded charge Monday morning, saying Sanchez faces a Level 5 felony charge of battery «involving serious bodily injury.» Punishment can range from one to six years in prison, according to Mears.

Mears added that prosecutors are still investigating the incident and that Sanchez, 38, could face additional charges.

On Sunday, Sanchez was charged with battery with injury, public intoxication and unlawful entry of a vehicle — all misdemeanors. An initial hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET Tuesday.

According to an affidavit for probable cause based on hotel video footage of the altercation early Saturday and statements to police, Sanchez allegedly accosted the driver of a box truck that backed into a hotel's loading dock.

According to the affidavit, the confrontation escalated to the point where the truck driver believed he was in danger, sprayed Sanchez in the face with pepper spray and, with Sanchez still advancing toward him, said he thought «this guy is trying to kill me.»

The truck driver then pulled his knife and, with Sanchez still coming at him, said he struck Sanchez «two or three times,» according to the affidavit. The truck driver said he was thrown against a dumpster and onto the ground and believed he was in a «life-or-death situation.» The driver, according to the affidavit, then said «a look of shock» came to Sanchez's face and Sanchez «took off.»

Sanchez was arrested by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at a hospital Saturday.

The affidavit said Sanchez