Scott Clark
Aug 11, 2023 - 02:35

Henry Ruggs sentenced to 3-10 years for fatal DUI

Former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III sentenced to 3-10 years in prison for DUI-related death of woman.

Former wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders, Henry Ruggs III, has been sentenced to three to 10 years in a Nevada state prison. This comes after a plea deal was accepted by a judge in the Clark County District Court. The charges stem from a tragic incident in 2021 where Ruggs was involved in a fiery DUI-related crash that resulted in the death of a woman.

Ruggs, who is 24 years old, will have the possibility of parole after serving three years of his sentence. Initially, he was facing a potential sentence of over 50 years for causing the death of Tina Tintor and her dog. The incident occurred when Ruggs was driving his 2020 Chevrolet Corvette at a speed of 156 mph and collided with Tintor's car, a RAV4, on a residential street in Las Vegas. The impact caused her vehicle to be propelled 571 feet and catch fire.

Investigations revealed that Ruggs had a blood-alcohol level of 0.161, which is more than twice the legal limit in Nevada. Prior to his sentencing, Ruggs read a statement in the Las Vegas courtroom, expressing his sincere apologies to the parents and family of Ms. Tintor. He acknowledged the pain and suffering his actions had caused and admitted to letting down his own family, teammates, and those who had believed in him.

On May 10, Ruggs pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to Tintor's death. These included one count of DUI resulting in death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. In exchange for his guilty plea, the state dropped one count of DUI causing substantial harm to his passenger and two counts of reckless driving.

Following the crash, the Raiders made the decision to release Ruggs from the team. He had played in 20 games, starting in 19 of them, and had recorded 50 catches for 921 yards and four touchdowns since being drafted as the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

As a result of his sentencing, Ruggs was immediately taken into custody after being on house arrest. He will now serve his prison term, with the possibility of parole after three years. This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of driving under the influence and the importance of making responsible choices to ensure the safety of oneself and others on the road.