Sanchez will not face charges
DA's office cites insufficient evidence
by SCOTT WOLF, Staff Writer

Prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to file charges against USC quarterback Mark Sanchez on Friday, more than a month after he was arrested for suspicion of sexual assault.

The decision was hardly surprising because the case was considered weak from the outset, according to sources within the district attorney's office. But prosecutors made it official, as deputy district attorney Richard Tacklander said there was "a lack of sufficient evidence beyond a reasonable doubt."

Sanchez released a statement where he maintained his innocence.

"I've been confident that the facts would come to light and that investigators would confirm that I was innocent of the allegation against me," he said. "I am grateful to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office and the LAPD detectives for their diligence in pursuing the truth and taking the time necessary to make the right decision."

USC coach Pete Carroll, who was in Palm Springs, also applauded the decision.

"I'm glad to hear that this is behind Mark and that he has been exonerated," he said. "This was a trying process for him. An accusation like this is so damaging, because opinions are formed before all the facts are in."

In their charge evaluation worksheet, prosecutors said that a review of medical exams on Sanchez and the alleged victim were inconclusive on the issue of force and the events of the evening were "essentially a one-on-one" allegation."

Sanchez spent the night of April 26 attending a rape-awareness seminar at Heritage Hall, then used fake identification to enter an off-campus bar. Witnesses said he was drunk at the bar and a group of female students drove him home to the Cardinal Gardens apartment complex around 1:30 a.m.

He then met the alleged victim at his apartment. Sources said she left Sanchez's apartment and eventually told her mother of the incident. The mother then contacted police.

One factor in Sanchez's favor is that three witnesses inside the apartment, including his roommate, linebacker Brian Cushing, gave statements supportive of his side of the events.

See more at San Bernardino County Sun