Ex-Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III gets 3 to 10 years in fatal drunk driving crash
Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Clark County District Court Judge Jennifer Schwartz sentenced former NFL wide receiver Henry Ruggs III to up to 10 years in prison Wednesday in Las Vegas for causing a fatal, drunk driving crash in 2021.
"To the parents and family of Ms. Tintor, I sincerely apologize for the pain and suffering my actions the morning of Nov. 2, 2021, have caused you, your family and those who knew and loved Ms. Tina and [her dog] Max," Ruggs said Wednesday at the Regional Justice Center.
"I also let my family, teammates and those who believed in me, down with my actions and hurt so many."
Ruggs was driving a Chevrolet Corvette when he crashed into a Toyota RAV4, killing occupants Tina Tintor, 23, and her dog in the early morning of Nov. 2, 2021, at Rainbow Boulevard and Spring Valley Parkway in Las Vegas.
Police determined he was driving drunk and reached speeds of more than 150 mph before the crash. Investigators found that the RAV4, which caught fire, traveled 571 feet after impact.
Ruggs, who could have been sentenced to more than 50 years in prison had he been convicted of initial charges, pleaded guilty May 10 to a felony of driving while under the influence -- resulting in death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter.
He was sentenced Wednesday to a minimum of 36 months and maximum of 120 months for the felony and six months, which he can serve concurrently, for the misdemeanor.
Ruggs called his actions "selfish" and said he had "no excuse." He said he is committed to educating others about the dangers of driving at an excessive speed and impaired.
"I have no excuse and pray that accepting responsibility and my guilty plea can allow me to begin the healing process and allow everyone involved to heal also," Ruggs said.
Ruggs joined Raiders as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Alabama star totaled 986 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns through his first two seasons. The Raiders released Ruggs the day after the fatal crash.
