06/11/26 08:04:00
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06/11 20:00 CDT Former Raider Henry Ruggs denied parole nearly 5 years after
deadly car crash
Former Raider Henry Ruggs denied parole nearly 5 years after deadly car crash
By JESSICA HILL
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- Ex-NFL player Henry Ruggs was denied parole nearly five
years after killing a woman in a car crash in Las Vegas, the Nevada Board of
Parole Commissioners ruled Thursday.
Ruggs, a former first-round draft pick and Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver,
drove his sports car at speeds up to 156 mph (251 kph) in the city on Nov. 2,
2021, slamming into a vehicle that killed driver Tina Tintor and her dog, Max.
Tintor was 23.
Prosecutors at the time said his blood-alcohol level taken within the required
two hours after the crash was 0.16%, which is twice the legal limit for drivers
in Nevada. Before the crash, he was at TopGolf, a sports entertainment venue in
Las Vegas, according to prosecutors.
Ruggs pleaded guilty in May 2023 to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor
vehicular manslaughter. He was sentenced in August 2023 to a three- to 10-year
prison sentence. The earliest he was eligible for parole was August 2026.
Ruggs will go before the parole board again three months before Aug. 24, 2027,
his mandatory parole release date, according to Kathi Baker, executive director
of the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners.
"Mr. Ruggs, and our office, continue to feel the grief and loss suffered by Ms.
Tintor's family," Ruggs' attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld said in
a Thursday statement, adding that they were disappointed by the parole board's
decision to deny parole.
The attorneys said there is "overwhelming evidence" of Ruggs' accepting
responsibility for his conduct and engaging in community outreach efforts
related to DUI prevention, including completing educational programs while in
custody.
Tintor's family could not be reached for comment.
During the May parole hearing, Ruggs said he took full responsibility for the
actions that led to Tintor and her dog's death.
"Not a minute goes by where I don't think of the pain I caused her family, her
friends and the Las Vegas community," he said during the hearing, of which the
AP obtained a copy.
He said he used his time in custody to educate young people and others about
decision-making and the dangers of drinking and driving. He also said he met
with Tintor's family to apologize.
"I know I can never alleviate the pain that I caused, but if released I plan to
continue to do my work to educate young people on the dangers of reckless
behavior and hopefully avoid future tragedies," he said.
___
This story has been updated to correct the day that Henry Ruggs' parole was
denied. It was on Thursday, not Friday.
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