Mark Sanchez Facing Felony Battery Charge, Carries 1-6 Year Penalty

10:44 AM PT -- Mark Sanchez's team requested to waive his initial court hearing slated for Tuesday ... stating upon acceptance, he will enter a not guilty plea.

8:04 AM PT -- Mark Sanchez is now facing a Level 5 Felony battery involving serious bodily injury charge ... which carries a penalty of one to six years behind bars, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced minutes ago.

Mears explained that upon receiving further information on the alleged victim's condition, it was clear the more severe charge was necessary. According to the amended probable cause affidavit, the alleged victim suffered a "severe laceration to the side of his face, penetrating all the way through his left cheek" ... and stated the pain he experienced eventually reached a 10 on a scale of 1-10.

IMPD Chief Chris Bailey added Sanchez won't get any special treatment ... saying, "I don't care who you are, I don't care what you do for a living, I don't care where you live -- if you come into our city, commit violence, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold you accountable."

Bailey said given the cases that have unfolded in recent years, "we're lucky that no one's dead right now" due to a knife being involved.

Local cops and officials are about to address the late-night stabbing incident involving Mark Sanchez ... with a press conference slated to go down in a matter of minutes.

The 38-year-old former NFL quarterback was hit with three misdemeanor charges -- battery resulting in injury, public intoxication and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle -- following an altercation with a 69-year-old delivery driver early Saturday morning in downtown Indianapolis.

The driver claims he was delivering fryer oil at a hotel loading dock when Sanchez approached him and took issue with his parking spot ... and after a tense back and forth, he tried to pepper spray the ex-USC star.

When that wasn't effective, the driver told cops he feared for his life and stabbed Sanchez several times. The alleged victim suffered a serious gash to his cheek.

Sanchez and the alleged victim were taken to the hospital with injuries ... and after reviewing surveillance footage of the altercation, the NFL vet was arrested.

Sanchez has yet to share his side of things ... as he doesn't remember much from the night.