Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver, Henry Ruggs, 24, was sentenced on Wednesday morning to between 3 and 10 years in prison for a fatal crash that took the life of a 23-year-old woman, Tina Tintor, and her dog, Max. The fiery crash, which occurred in November 2021, also marked the end of Ruggs’ career with the NFL.
Ruggs was driving at a speed of 156 mph under the influence when he crashed into Tintor’s car. Prosecutors reported that his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit at 0.1. The sentencing proceeding lasted 20 minutes, and the courtroom was filled with Ruggs’ family members and supporters, as well as Tintor’s family.
Before the sentence was read, Ruggs issued an apology to Tintor’s family and owned up to his actions. He also vowed to educate others about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Ruggs’ attorney, David Chesnoff, described him as a “kind, shy, extremely bright, and thoughtful young man,” and emphasized that Ruggs was accepting full responsibility for his actions.
Ruggs initially faced various charges, including DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in bodily harm, two counts of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, and possession of a firearm while under the influence. However, after accepting a plea deal in May 2023, the charges were reduced to DUI resulting in death and a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. The plea deal guaranteed prison time for Ruggs, according to Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson.
The Tintor family released a statement expressing their profound grief and the irreplaceable loss they suffered due to the “tragic and preventable” crash. They also offered thoughtful words for Ruggs and his family. The family’s hope is that this terrible accident will inspire change and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.