Ex-Raider Henry Ruggs takes plea deal in DUI case, meaning he could face 3 to 10 years in prison

Ex-Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs told a judge on Tuesday he will admit to driving drunk at speeds of up to 155 mph, causing a fiery crash that killed a woman.

The plea deal could send the 24-year-old first-round NFL draft pick to a three- to 10-year prison sentence.

Ruggs waived a long-delayed preliminary hearing agreeing to admit driving under the influence of alcohol resulted in death, a felony, his attorneys said. A six-month prison sentence for a guilty plea to manslaughter will be added to the total.

Ruggs spoke only to acknowledge Justice of the Peace Harmony Letizia that he understands the terms of the agreement. Prosecutor Eric Bauman told the judge that the Clark County district attorney approved the deal.

“This is the first step toward a fair resolution of this matter and we look forward to a conclusion for all parties involved,” Ruggs lawyers David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld said in a statement given to reporters.

Tina Tintor, 23, ‘died of thermal injuries from motor vehicle collision’ in November 2021

A Chevrolet Corvette owned by then Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III is shown on a flatbed trailer after a fatal crash on South Rainbow Boulevard on November 2, 2021

She and their client and several people with them declined additional comment in the courtroom.

Ruggs’ lawyers lost an attempt to prevent prosecutors from presenting evidence that Ruggs had a blood alcohol level of 0.16% — twice the legal limit in Nevada — following the predawn rear-end accident in which 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her pet died dog, max.

Ruggs’ Corvette Stingray hit Tintor’s Toyota RAV4 and, according to police, propelled it 175 yards and set it on fire. A coroner later ruled that Tintor and her dog had been burned.

An attorney who has represented Tintor’s family members in previous court hearings did not respond to emails and phone calls to him and his media representative regarding Ruggs’ plea.

Ruggs’ sentencing is scheduled for May 10 in state court in Las Vegas, and the former Raider is expected to formally plead guilty at that time.

Other charges will be dismissed, including reckless driving, drunk driving that significantly injured Ruggs’ girlfriend, Je’nai Kilgo-Washington, and a misdemeanor charge.

Police said they found a loaded handgun in Ruggs’ wrecked Chevrolet Corvette after the crash.

Ruggs was released by the Raiders shortly after the November 2, 2021 crash. He could have faced more than 50 years in prison had he been convicted of all charges at trial, District Attorney Steve Wolfson had said.

Ruggs posted $150,000 bail to be released from prison after leaving the hospital and is on house arrest for 18 months with strict conditions, including alcohol checks.

Bauman said out of court that Ruggs would remain under house arrest pending sentencing and that his minimum three-year sentence cannot be reduced by commuting that to time already served.

Ruggs (left) and his girlfriend, Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington (right), were injured in the wreck

The wide receiver was released by the Las Vegas Raiders less than 24 hours after his arrest

Ruggs was given permission last year to go out of the house for three hours a day twice a week to exercise.

Kilgo-Washington and Ruggs have a daughter together, and Kilgo-Washington did not cooperate with prosecutors as a victim in the substantial injury lawsuit. Her attorney, Peter Christiansen, lost an attempt to block prosecutors from obtaining Kilgo-Washington’s medical records over privacy concerns.

Prosecutors said Ruggs suffered a leg injury and Kilgo-Washington underwent surgery for an arm injury.

Ruggs was emerging as a star wide receiver for the Raiders before the crash, and records showed he owned a $1.1 million home not far from the crash scene. He had signed a four-year rookie contract reportedly worth more than $16 million.