Ex-Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs’s felony DUI case is delayed over a judge dispute
Former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs’ DUI case is delayed due to court dispute after killing a woman and her dog in a high-speed crash in 2021
A Nevada judge will again be asked to decide which justice of the peace should handle a preliminary hearing in the case against former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, who is accused of killing a woman in an accident. drunk driving in 2021.
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Harmony Letizia told Ruggs and his lawyers Monday that she lacks the authority to decide whether she or another judge should preside over the hearing to decide whether there is enough evidence to justify Ruggs standing trial on charges of reckless driving. and driving under the influence causing death.
Ruggs’ attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, said they will take the matter back to Clark County District Court, where a judge said in January the case should be assigned to the docket in Las Vegas DUI court.
But the judge handling those cases recused himself because he said he spoke about Ruggs’ case during his 2022 re-election campaign.
Prosecutors plan to present evidence that Ruggs had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit and that his Chevrolet Corvette was speeding at 156 mph before the fiery crash that killed a 23-year-old woman and her dog. .
Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III’s case has been delayed by judge issue
Ruggs, pictured in court on Monday, is accused of killing a woman in a drunken car crash in 2021.
Tina Tintor, 23, of Las Vegas, “died from thermal injuries due to a motor vehicle collision on November 2” in 2021, according to a statement from Clark County Coroner Melanie Rouse.
Ruggs is accused of causing the pre-dawn crash by drunk driving at speeds of up to 156 mph (251 kph) with his girlfriend in his Corvette sports car before it crashed into the rear of Tintor’s Toyota Rav4 on a residential street where the speed limit is 45 mph (72 kph).
The Raiders quickly released the former first-round pick, who was in his second season with the team.
He had earned more than $11 million in two NFL seasons, according to Spotrac.com. As a rookie, he signed a fully guaranteed, four-year, $16 million contract.
Ruggs was briefly hospitalized in the crash and his girlfriend sustained serious injuries, according to reports. The first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft was released from police custody on $150,000 bail and has remained on electronic GPS and alcohol monitors ever since.
He is under house arrest and could face up to 50 years in prison if convicted.
It was not immediately clear Monday if a case assignment will be made before a preliminary hearing currently scheduled for May 4.
Tina Tintor, 23, ‘died from thermal injuries due to a motor vehicle collision’ in November 2021
Ruggs (left) and his girlfriend, Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington (right), were injured in the crash.
The wide receiver was released by the Las Vegas Raiders less than 24 hours after his arrest.
Prior to his involvement in the fatal crash, Ruggs was supposed to be an exciting long-term prospect for the Raiders.
He was the 12th pick in the 2020 NFL draft after spending three years at Alabama, where he had 12 receptions for 229 yards and six touchdowns as a freshman as the Crimson Tide won the NCAA championship in 2017.
After being drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, Ruggs had 26 receptions for 452 yards and two touchdowns in his first season of professional football.
At the start of this year’s season, he was slowly beginning to emerge as a star, with 24 receptions for a team-high 469 yards and two touchdowns.