The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners has denied the parole request of Henry Ruggs III. Despite his claims of personal improvement and remorse over a fatal accident, Ruggs will remain incarcerated until at least 2027 when he has a mandatory parole release date.
Henry Ruggs III, once a promising first-round draft pick for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, was involved in a tragic car crash in 2021. He drove his sports car at speeds reaching 156 mph, colliding with a vehicle driven by Tina Tintor, resulting in her death and that of her dog, Max, as their car was engulfed in flames. Prosecutors presented evidence showing Ruggs was legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol level of 0.16, twice the legal limit, at the time of the crash following an evening at Topgolf, a Las Vegas venue.
Ruggs pleaded guilty to felony DUI causing death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charges in May 2023. He received a three-to-ten-year prison sentence in August 2023, effectively ending his NFL career for now. Ruggs has engaged in various prison programs at the University of Alabama, furthering his education and engaging in work efforts, including serving at the Nevada governor’s mansion through a state inmate program.
The Associated Press indicates that Ruggs will have another opportunity to appeal for parole three months before the mandatory release date in August 2027, as stated by Kathi Baker, the executive director of the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners.
In related news, Ruggs was ordered to wear an ankle monitor to measure his alcohol levels after missing a court-ordered test, following the fatal crash.