Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal/pool
Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum presides over former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs’, accused of DUI resulting in death, status check on filing the criminal complaint against him at the Regional Justice Center, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Las Vegas.
Published Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 | 8:30 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 | 9:29 a.m.
Former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III was formally charged today in a fiery crash last week that killed 23-year-old Las Vegas resident Tina Tintor.
Ruggs, 22, was charged with two counts of DUI resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, two counts of reckless driving and one count of possessing a firearm while under the influence. If convicted, he could face up to 52 years in prison.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Dec. 16.
Though Ruggs was not present at today’s hearing his attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfield asked Las Vegas Justice Court Judge Suzan Baucum to deny prosecutors access to medical records belonging to Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washingtton. She was identified as Ruggs’ girlfriend and was riding with him at the time of the crash.
Baucum granted the request pending a Dec. 8 hearing, where the matter will be deliberated further.
Chesnoff said the all the facts in the case would come out in the courtroom in due time.
“Lawyers are constrained by the rules of court by what they can say about the facts of the case,” Chesnoff said after the hearing. “The police aren’t. The police, an arm of the district attorney, has released what they say are facts.”
“I have been doing this for 40 years, and I can tell each and every one of you that I have had multiple experiences where the facts that were presented on the outset of the case were not the facts,” Chesnoff said.
Prosecutors allege Ruggs was driving his Chevrolet Corvette 156 mph before he rear-ended Tintor’s Toyota Rav4 SUV at about 3:40 a.m. on Nov. 2, pinning her inside the vehicle, which caught fire.
Witnesses attempted to extract Tintor and her 3-year-old golden retriever, Max, but were pushed away by the heat and smoke, authorities said. Tintor was pronounced dead at the scene. The dog also died.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said prosecutors explored filing animal cruelty charges against Ruggs, but ultimately decided those charges would likely not stick.
“We explored that issue, but Nevada law does not permit us to bring charges against someone for animal cruelty or animal abuse under these facts or cirsumstances,” he said.
Ruggs initially was arrested on one count of DUI and one count of reckless driving, but prosecutors sought the additional charges based on injuries suffered by Kilgo-Washington.
Wolfson said last week she suffered “significant wrist injuries that required surgery.”
“The evidence supports a second felony DUI charge. We believe 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. That’s for the second reckless driving as well,” Wolfson said.
Ruggs had a blood-alcohol content of .161%, twice the legal limit to drive in Nevada, and also had a loaded handgun in the car, prosecutors said.
Ruggs was released on $150,000 bond on the condition he wear an ankle monitor and does not drive or consume alcohol. He was cut from the Raiders after his arrest.
A GoFundMe campaign started by Tintor’s family to cover funeral expenses has raised more than $99,000. The family initially set out to raise $7,000.
A funeral service open to the public is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church, 3950 S. Jones Blvd. A private service will be held at a cemetery afterward.
