SOURCES: CASE AGAINST SANCHEZ WEAK DISTRICT ATTORNEY POSTPONES ARRAIGNMENT TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL TIME TO INVESTIGATE.

Byline: SCOTT WOLF  Staff Writer

The sexual-assault case against USC quarterback Mark Sanchez is considered weak, according to sources close to the investigation.

The district attorney's office postponed Wednesday's scheduled arraignment hearing and requested another week to investigate the case. But according to sources, the district attorney's investigation is proving favorable toward Sanchez although no final decision has been made by prosecutors.

``I think it's obvious they don't have enough to file charges right now,'' said a source familiar with the case.

The district attorney's office received the case from the Los Angeles Police Department two weeks ago, sources said, and remains skeptical about the charges.

But the fact Wednesday's hearing was delayed should not be interpreted as a sign of the case's merits, according to the district attorney's office.

``It doesn't mean anything about anything,'' spokesperson Jane Robison said. ``We have further investigating.''

Sanchez's attorney, Leonard Levine, chose not to answer any questions about the specific nature of the case.

``I don't want to comment on the strengths or weaknesses,'' Levine said.

But Levine is pleased no charges have been filed.

``They need additional time and we've encouraged them to take as much time as possible,'' he said. ``We're confident Mark will be exonerated.''

Witness testimony also seems to favor Sanchez. Besides Sanchez and the alleged victim, there were three other students in the apartment, including Sanchez's roommate, linebacker Brian Cushing.

None of the three witnesses said they believed the victim was sexually assaulted, according to sources.

``I was in the area,'' said one of the witnesses, who is friends with Sanchez and the alleged victim. ``I've heard both versions. Of course I don't believe Mark did it.''

The witnesses were all interviewed by law-enforcement authorities in the past two weeks.

``It seems clear they have interviewed the people they needed to,'' a source said.

Sanchez, 19, was arrested last month at his off-campus apartment on suspicion of sexual assault. He underwent DNA testing and had his body combed for hair samples, but he decided not to give any statements to police. He was released on $200,000 bail.

The bail amount was high, but legal sources said if there were two separate acts of assault, they could be considered two separate crimes, which would account for the $200,000 figure.

It's not known if Sanchez is accused of two separate acts, however, because a police report has not been released to the public.

Sanchez is currently on ``interim suspension'' at USC, but it's a murky description because he was allowed to take final exams, although he did so in a separate room away from the other students in his classes.

Last week, Sanchez's case became political when the California chapter of the National Organization for Women accused USC and law enforcement of ignoring gender-based crimes at the school.

The letter also included an inflammatory passage that said, ``alumni lawyers have cleared players of crimes, with help of friends in the DA's office.''

That statement angered attorney Carmen Trutanich, who in the past two years represented USC football players Hershel Dennis, Eric Wright and Rey Maualuga.

``NOW's statement is almost patronizing,'' Trutanich said. ``It's upsetting to me when someone attacks the judicial system and has absolutely no facts.

``I would challenge them to come forward with the name of the alleged crony that was in contact with me. That's a libelous statement. Who was the friend that I contacted? I never spoke to anyone in the DA's office.''

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