FORMER Raiders star Henry Ruggs’ legal team appeared in court on his behalf on Wednesday after he was previously released on bail, and it was revealed that he could face 50 years in prison for the crash that killed Tina Tintor.
Rugg’s defense lawyers filed a new document that claims firefighters failed to save Tintor’s life because they did not act quickly enough after the crash, as reported by KTNV.
Prosecutors claim that Ruggs III, 22, was twice the legal alcohol limit and was driving at 156 miles per hour when he reportedly attempted to slow down before skidding 570 feet and slamming Tintor’s Toyota Rav 4.
“The bare minimum actually would be two years in prison,” Clark County DA Steve Wolfson explained. “Up to as much as somewhere in the 50 range. These are non-probationable offenses.”
Ruggs was initially charged with two felony charges of DUI and reckless driving resulting in death after the deadly car crash he was involved in, but prosecutors also aim to charge Ruggs with a misdemeanor for a loaded gun that was allegedly found in his car.
The former Raider was released on $150k bail and has since been under house arrest.
Ruggs, 22, also appeared in court last Wednesday, where he was accused of driving while intoxicated and had a loaded illegal firearm at the time of the crash, which occurred in the central Las Vegas area at around 3am on Tuesday.
Read our Henry Ruggs live blog for the latest news and updates…
-
VICTIM’S MOM RECOGNIZED BURNING CAR
Tintor’s mom told friends she has recognized her daughter’s burning car on TV news reports.
“Hey this could be her car, I checked the news,” Tina mother told her daughter’s best friend Bojana Filipovic, who recalled the conversation in an interview with The Sun.
Tina’s boyfriend has been left “crushed” by her loss, Filipovic said.
On the night that Tintor would not make it home alive, she and Filipovic had been spending time together at a local park before bidding goodnight.
“I left her at 3.30 and she got into the crash 15 minutes later,” the mourning pal recalled. “We were just hanging out at the park and then going home.”
-
UNDER HOUSE ARREST
Henry Ruggs is currently under house arrest, after the former NFL star posted $150,000 bail last week.
If convicted on all counts, Ruggs could face up to 40 years in prison.
-
OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM VICTIM’S FAMILY
The Naqvi Injury Law released a statement on the behalf of Tina Tintor’s family.
It reads: “Tina’s tragic loss has devastated her family beyond a grief they could ever comprehend.
“Family was everything to Tina, and she was the light of her parents’ life.
“Tina lived in Las Vegas since she was a baby.
“She loved her 3-year-old Golden Retriever, Max, who passed alongside her Tuesday morning.
“The Tinto family appreciates privacy as they mourn.
“May Tina rest in peace.”
-
‘OBVIOUSLY, WE MISSED’
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock Acknowledged that there had been “significant concern” about Damon Arnette leading into the 2020 NFL draft and that the Raiders believed in their own evaluation of him.
“Obviously, we missed,” Mayock said. “That is 100% on me.”
The online threat is the latest controversy surrounding the troubled young star.
-
FORMER RAIDERS STAR DAMON ARNETTE ‘SEEN BRANDISHING GUN AND THREATENING TO KILL’
The Las Vegas Raiders released cornerback Damon Arnette after a video leaked online which allegedly showed him brandishing a gun and threatening to kill.
The footage, which allegedly featured Arnette, leaked on social media on Monday.
Raiders general manager Mike Mayock addressed the decision to cut Arnette on Monday, saying: “Very painful decision. We spent significant time, effort, and resources trying to help him in all aspects of his life.
“We cannot stand for the video of Damon with a gun, threatening to take a life,” Mayock added.
-
RUGGS ‘FACING UP TO 46 YEARS IN PRISON’
Las Vegas prosecutors tacked a misdemeanor gun possession rap on the 22-year-old professional football player in addition to four felonies – the same day that loved ones memorialized Tintor’s life at a vigil.
Ruggs also faces DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm and two reckless driving charges, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
If convicted, he could be sent away to prison for 46 years.
-
HOW FAST WAS RUGGS DRIVING?
During a court appearance, Ruggs was accused of traveling 156mph, which Judge Joe Bonaventure said was the highest speed he’s heard during his career on the bench, according to a local reporter.
Prosecutors alleged that Ruggs’ blood was drawn within two hours, where he had an alcohol level of .161 which is more than twice the legal limit.
-
RAIDERS DO NOT BLAME RUGGS’ ABSENSE FOR LOSS TO GIANTS
After losing to the Giants last Sunday 23-16, the Raiders were questioned on whether the Henry Ruggs tragedy impacted the team.
Quarterback Derek Carr and interim head coach Rich Bisaccia said that the team’s disappointing performance last week was not due to outside factors.
-
RUGGS REMAINS UNDER HOUSE ARREST
Henry Ruggs is currently under house arrest, after the former NFL star posted $150,000 bail last week.
If convicted on all counts, Ruggs could face decades in prison.
“The bare minimum actually would be two years in prison,” Clark County DA Steve Wolfson explained.
“Up to as much as somewhere in the 50 range. These are non-probationable offenses.”
-
LEAD UP TO THE CRASH
The circumstances leading up to the crash remain under investigation, but a preliminary probe determined that Ruggs’ Chevrolet crashed into the back of the Toyota at high speed.
Newly released video footage shows flames engulfing the Toyota in the aftermath of the crash, as one person can be seen sitting down in the road and another by Ruggs’ car.
The driver of the Toyota was dead by the time police arrived on the scene.
-
DID RUGGS GO TO COURT ON WEDNESDAY?
Henry Ruggs was expected in court on Wednesday, but a local reporter revealed on Twitter that his legal team appeared on his behalf.
“Henry Ruggs is expected in court again this morning. Prosecutors are expected to formally charge him with two DUI counts, two reckless driving counts, and possession of a gun while under the influence of alcohol,” Katelyn Newberg initially shared on Twitter.
However, in a reply, she added, “Ruggs’ defense attorneys just arrived in court. Ruggs himself is not going to appear, David Chesnoff said.”
-
WHAT IS THE LEGAL LIMIT?
In Nevada, drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher are considered impaired by law.
It is illegal for underage (under 21) drivers to have any concentration of alcohol in their system, even if below the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
-
RUGGS 911 CALL RELEASED
Police have released the 911 call from the crash involving Henry Ruggs III.
In a video on YouTube, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released the call, which is almost 14 minutes total in length.
-
HOW MANY PEOPLE DIE FROM DRINKING AND DRIVING?
It has been reported that more than 10,000 people in the US die every year from incidents of drunk driving.
That equates to one drunk driving fatality every 52 minutes, according to the NHTSA.
About one third of traffic deaths are caused by drunk driving.
Driving impaired is illegal in all 50 US states.
-
FELLOW RAIDERS PLAYER DARREN WALLER CALLS HENRY RUGGS CRASH ‘SHOCKING’
“Henry is somebody everybody liked,” Darren Waller said Sunday after the Raiders lost to the New York Giants, according to TMZ.
“Not just because he was the fastest person you’ve ever seen run on the field. But he was a good person and a respectful person.”
“It is shocking,” Waller said of the situation with Ruggs. “And it does hurt a little bit.”
-
‘SHE WAS ONLY 23 YEARS OLD’
After Tina Tintor was killed in the crash, her loved ones spoke out.
“She was only 23 years old,” said Mary Vogle, a former co-worker, said of the young woman, according to KTNV.
“Didn’t even live half her life. And now it’s gone — taken away senselessly.”
“Every time I look back and think about her, I just see her smile and I see good times,” said Ryder Hankins, who also previously worked with Tintor.
“We would laugh in the check stands together. The unbearable eight-hour shifts — we would laugh and it would feel like nothing because she was there.”
-
DESEAN JACKSON JOINING THE RAIDERS
The Las Vegas Raiders have signed a new player after Henry Ruggs was released from the team.
Receiver DeSean Jackson is signing with the Raiders, he told NFL reporter Josina Anderson, according to ESPN.
Previously, he was a free agent.
-
DAMON ARNETTE WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH THAT LEFT A WOMAN INJURED, CONTINUED
Police records show Arnette said he left the scene of the car crash “because he was running late to a meeting at work,” leaving a friend to provide his details.
But police said the friend tried to take the blame and did not provide the information.
They later issued the citation for failure to maintain travel lane as well as duty to stop a property damage accident after finding him at the Raiders’ facility.
An incident report obtained by TMZ is said to include an admission from Arnette that he did make the unsafe turn.
His accuser says she suffered head, shoulder, neck and back injuries from the crash and is seeking more than $90,000 in damages.
-
DAMON ARNETTE WAS INVOLVED IN CRASH THAT LEFT A WOMAN INJURED
In October 2020, Arnette was allegedly involved in a car crash that left a woman injured.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, the former Raiders cornerback hit the driver at around 65mph.
The outlet reports that cornerback Arnette missed his turn into the Raiders’ facility and was turning to make it when he allegedly hit his accuser.
Arnette is accused of “illegally leaving the scene of the crash” in the lawsuit.
-
TINA TINTOR’S BROTHER THANKS SUPPORTERS
Tina’s brother Djordje Tintor has now started a GoFundMe page for Tina, which has so far raised $23,000.
Heartbroken Djordje thanked supporters for the “outpouring of love and support” the family have received.
In an emotional tribute, he said “Those who knew Tina know that she was a beautiful loving soul that always put everyone before herself.
“Whether she knew you or not, Tina was the type of person that would give you the food off of her plate to make sure you weren’t hungry.
“Tina was the shoulder to cry on, the ear that made you felt heard, and the friendly smile you needed when you made a bad joke.
“From our hearts to yours, we thank you for thinking of Tina and Max, and we really appreciate your support.”
-
‘JUST STUNNING’
“Both #Raiders 2020 first-rounds picks — Henry Ruggs and Damon Arnette — are no longer members of the franchise just 19 months after getting drafted due to off-the-field incidents,” a sportswriter noted on Twitter.
“Just stunning.”
-
DID THE RAIDERS ALSO RELEASE DAMON ARNETTE?
After releasing Henry Ruggs for his alleged involvement in a fatal DUI car crash last week, the Raiders announced that the team also cut ties with another player.
On Monday, the team released Damon Arnette.
The former NFL star was released following a video of him that went viral, where he was brandishing a gun and threatening to kill someone.
-
RUGGS CAN’T GET PROBATION IF CONVICTED
Clark County DA Steve Wolfson explained on Wednesday that Henry Ruggs can’t get probation if convicted of the charges against him.
“If convicted, Ruggs can’t get probation. It must be a prison sentence, according to Wolfson,” reporter Hector Mejia shared on Twitter alongside a clip of Wolfson.
-
RUGGS COULD HAVE BAIL REVOKED OVER ALCOHOL CHECK-INS
Henry Ruggs has to pass alcohol breath check-ins or could potentially have his bail revoked, a reporter revealed on Wednesday on social media.
“Henry Ruggs’ legal team appears on his behalf,” reporter Hector Mejia shared on Twitter alongside a photo.
“Judge Suzan Baucum regarding Ruggs:
- Compliant with all of his alcohol breath check-ins
- Any missed check-in/dirty tests will result in revoke of his bail”
-
POSSIBLE SECOND FELONY DUI CHARGE
Clark County DA Steve Wolfson commented on the prosecution’s decision to file extra charges against Ruggs on Wednesday.
“The evidence supports a second felony DUI charge,” he explained.
“We believe that Mr Ruggs’ girlfriend was substantially injured and under Nevada law, if one is substantially injured in a DUI collision as a result of the defendant’s actions, we can file a second charge.”