Henry Ruggs plans to plead guilty to felony counts of DUI resulting in death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. The former Raiders wide receiver reached a plea agreement Tuesday in Las Vegas justice court, Elizabeth Merrill and Anthony Olivieri of ESPN.com report.
Unconditionally waiving his right to a preliminary hearing, Ruggs is set to enter his guilty plea May 10. Ruggs will serve between three and 10 years in the Nevada state prison as a result of this development, according to ESPN. This comes exactly 18 months after Ruggs was arrested following a fatal car accident that killed a woman and her dog in November 2021. Ruggs, 24, also faces a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge.
Accused of reaching speeds of 156 mph while impaired in the crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor, Ruggs faced a harsher prison sentence if convicted. This agreement will lead the charge of DUI causing substantial harm and reckless driving charges being dropped. Ruggs refused to take a field sobriety test, but blood tests approximately two hours later revealed a blood-alcohol level of .161, which is more than twice the legal limit.
Ruggs’ Corvette collided with Tintor’s Toyota RAV4, launching the woman’s vehicle 571 feet and set it on fire during the morning of Nov. 2, 2021. The accident occurred just west of The Strip. The Raiders waived Ruggs later that day. He and a female passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.
The Alabama alum had been granted permission to leave home confinement three times per week for workouts. The court also permitted Ruggs to leave for around a month for an unspecified medical treatment. The preliminary hearing had been rescheduled six times, Merrill and Olivieri add.
The Raiders made Ruggs the first wide receiver drafted in 2020, choosing the deep threat 12th overall. Ruggs played 20 games for the team.
Hes getting off Easy. Hes a murderer and deserves life
Felix62 I agree, but can’t really be upset if the victim’s family is okay with it by agreeing to this plea deal. Who are strangers to overrule those actually impacted?
Where does it say the victim’s family is OK with it?
Hope he does the whole 10. Should be more
Should be a lot more!
Begging for 10 damn thug thinking he’s above the law.
does he? did he tell you that?
He drove 156MPH through a residential area with a BAC of .16%. The impact propelled the victims vehicle 571 feet. Ruggs on board computer showed an instantaneous drop of 156MPH to 123MPH. Not mentioned in the plea deal are the open containers and the illegal firearm.
So yes, Henry Ruggs III did tell us all that he thinks he is above the law.
3-10 years for MURDER?! So messed up. That pos should rot for the rest of his life in prison. In the meantime his home “confinement” is anything but. So, if he murders another person before getting in trouble for the first one..is that like another year or two tops I’m guessing?!
He will get out at a playing age. We’ll see if a team stoops low enough to sign him
Yes a tea will sign him, count on it.
It worked for Mike Vick! But he did less time.
At least they are actually doling out punishment… Donte Stallworth did 30 days when he killed a guy during a DUI.
Totally different circumstances. Stallworth wasn’t drunk, and the guy walked out in the street from between two parked cars. Drives me crazy dumb people trying to act like it’s the same.
Circumstances are different between the two situations. Hence the difference in punishments.
Stallworth tried to get the dudes attention, supposedly, flashing his head lights, and the dude tried to cross the street in a non designated area.
Plus he was driving 50 in a 40, hardly that same as a 156mphs
It’s comforting to know that everyone condemning this young man never exhibited bad judgement in their own youth. (sarcasm intended)
“Accused of reaching speeds of 156 mph while impaired”
That’s not what I would define as youthful “bad judgment”…
crosseyedlemon People definitely do trivialize ‘short’ prison sentences as well. Ruggs is definitely getting off easy, but it’s not like he’s totally off the hook. Even a few years in prison would be a life wrecker for many everyday people.
Of course with some wealth and fame, he’ll be in a much better situation afterwards than most, but think of the prison experience itself. Of course his sentence doesn’t seem like much in the big picture, but it really is a long time to actually live it.
It seems some commenting can’t distinguish the difference between a career criminal and a young man who had a temporary brain cramp that resulted in tragic consequences. Locking Ruggs up for 10 years will cost taxpayers a tidy sum and it certainly won’t prevent other young people from doing things they later regret.
You are right that it won’t stop other people from driving drunk, but it will punish Ruggs for killing that woman and her dog, which is the entire point of punishment.
It also appears that you cannot distinguish between Henrey Ruggs pleading guilty with a plea deal and Ruggs being found guilty and receiving a 50 year sentence.
You are correct, his will not prevent other young people from doing things they later regret. it might not even stop Mr. Ruggs from repeating his mistake. But this action cannot go unpunished, and since you did not offer an alternative solution it shall go before a judge to decide.
Sad all around. Multiple families impacted
Still no word if the Raiders pick up his option yet.
His lawyers did their job messing with the case to get this favorable plea deal.
Comments Open…… This time!……But we’re watching……
When is Ray Lewis going to do hard time?