Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III has been denied parole by the Nevada Board of Parole, nearly three years into his prison sentence for a drunken driving crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog in November 2021.
Ruggs, 27, had been seeking release on his earliest eligible date of August 5. He has the right to appeal the decision. If he does not appeal or is not granted parole, he will become eligible again in roughly a year.
In November 2021, Ruggs was driving his Chevrolet Corvette at speeds of up to 156 mph with a blood alcohol level of 0.161%, more than twice Nevada's legal limit, when his car slammed into the back of an SUV carrying Tintor and her dog. Both died of thermal injuries as a result of the collision.
Ruggs pleaded guilty to one count of felony DUI causing death and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter in May 2023. He was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison under a plea deal with the Clark County District Attorney's office.
At his parole hearing, Ruggs told the board he thinks about Tintor's death every single day and asked for the privilege of parole so he can prove himself to everyone.
Nevada Board of Parole commissioner Sandy Schmitt had said in May that Ruggs is considered a low risk and that guidelines recommend he be released following his first or second hearing. Despite this, the board denied his release.
