The legal case involving former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez has a new judge. According to the Indianapolis Star (via Pro Football Talk), Judge Jennifer Prinz signed an order Tuesday recusing herself from the case without providing a reason.
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Recusals can happen if a judge personally knows someone involved in the matter or has another potential conflict of interest.
The case now moves to Judge James Osborn, who has scheduled a pretrial conference for October 22 and set a tentative jury trial date for December.
Sanchez faces one felony charge of battery and three misdemeanors: battery resulting in injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The charges stem from an incident on October 4 in Indianapolis, where Sanchez was stabbed during an altercation with 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole. According to Tole, Sanchez confronted him while he was collecting used cooking oil behind a hotel and allegedly became aggressive. Tole says he used pepper spray to fend Sanchez off, but when the former quarterback kept coming, he stabbed him.
Sanchez was in Indianapolis at the time to work Fox's broadcast of the Raiders-Colts game. The case remains ongoing as both sides prepare for the October pretrial hearing.
The family of the victim, by the way, has said he's doing fine.
More specifically, the family told TMZ he is "OK," but added, "We are talking to lawyers first. We want to be careful what's said. We appreciate that."
