Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was sentenced on Aug. 9 to three to ten years in prison for a November 2021 drunk driving crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog.
Ruggs, 24, pleaded guilty in October to two charges of DUI resulting in death and one count of reckless driving. He faced a sentence of upwards of 50 years in prison.
At the sentencing, Ruggs apologized to Tintor’s family and said he was “deeply sorry” for his actions. He also said he had been struggling with alcohol abuse and was “not in the right state of mind” when he got behind the wheel of his Chevrolet Corvette on the night of the fatal incident.
Tintor’s family spoke at the hearing, describing her as a “beautiful, vibrant young woman” who was “full of life.” They said Tintor’s death had left a “hole in our hearts” that would never be filled.
The judge who sentenced Ruggs said that he had to balance the need to punish Ruggs for his actions with the need to rehabilitate him so he could one day rejoin society. He noted that Ruggs would have to serve at least 87 months in prison before being eligible for parole.
Ruggs was released from jail on bail after his arrest in November 2021. However, he was ordered to stay away from alcohol and drugs and to wear a home detention ankle monitor. He was also ordered to relinquish his driver’s license.
Ruggs was a beloved receiver at the University of Alabama before the Raiders drafted him in the initial NFL draft round in 2020. He played in a dozen games for the Raiders in his rookie season, catching 26 passes for 452 yards and two touchdowns.
Ruggs was released by the Raiders shortly after the crash. He is currently facing a civil lawsuit from Tintor’s family.
Contact multi-media staff writer Noral Parham III at 317-762-7846 or via email at noralp@indyrecorder.com. Follow him on Twitter @NoralParham.
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Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.