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Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver and first-round draft pick Henry Ruggs has pleaded guilty to two charges in relation to the November 2021 car accident that resulted in the death of a Las Vegas woman.
Ruggs, 24 years old, has pleaded guilty to charges of DUI resulting in death and a misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter.
“This resolution is conditioned upon the court accepting the stipulations of the parties. In the event that the court does not accept the stipulations, Mr. Ruggs will be permitted to withdraw his guilty plea, proceed to trial and litigate all issues,” Ruggs’ attorney David Chesnoff said during the hearing on Tuesday.
On November 2, 2021, Ruggs was under the influence and driving at 156 mph on a 45 mph road when he struck a vehicle driven by 23-year-old Tina Tintor. Both Tintor and her dog passed away as a result of the crash. Police also say that a loaded gun was found in Ruggs’ vehicle at the time of his arrest.
Drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders as the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Ruggs appeared in just 20 games for the team across two seasons before the fatal car crash in 2021. In his two seasons in the NFL, Ruggs started in 19 games and caught 50 passes for 921 yards and four touchdowns.
At this time, prosecutors and the defense have reportedly agreed that Ruggs, who initially faced up to 50 years, will serve between three to 10 years in prison.
“This is the first step toward a fair resolution to this matter, and we look forward to closure for all the parties involved,” Ruggs’ attorneys said in a statement.
Prior to being drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders, Ruggs was a member of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team that won the 2017 College Football National Championship.