Former Raider Henry Ruggs denied parole nearly 5 years after deadly car
crash
[June 12, 2026]
By JESSICA HILL
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ex-NFL player Henry Ruggs was denied parole nearly five
years after killing a woman in a car crash in Las Vegas, the Nevada
Board of Parole Commissioners ruled Thursday.
Ruggs, a former first-round draft pick and Las Vegas Raiders wide
receiver, drove his sports car at speeds up to 156 mph (251 kph) in the
city on Nov. 2, 2021, slamming into a vehicle that killed driver Tina
Tintor and her dog, Max. Tintor was 23.
Prosecutors at the time said his blood-alcohol level taken within the
required two hours after the crash was 0.16%, which is twice the legal
limit for drivers in Nevada. Before the crash, he was at TopGolf, a
sports entertainment venue in Las Vegas, according to prosecutors.
Ruggs pleaded guilty in May 2023 to felony DUI causing death and
misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. He was sentenced in August 2023 to a
three- to 10-year prison sentence. The earliest he was eligible for
parole was August 2026.
Ruggs will go before the parole board again three months before Aug. 24,
2027, his mandatory parole release date, according to Kathi Baker,
executive director of the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners.
“Mr. Ruggs, and our office, continue to feel the grief and loss suffered
by Ms. Tintor’s family,” Ruggs’ attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard
Schonfeld said in a Thursday statement, adding that they were
disappointed by the parole board’s decision to deny parole.
The attorneys said there is “overwhelming evidence” of Ruggs’ accepting
responsibility for his conduct and engaging in community outreach
efforts related to DUI prevention, including completing educational
programs while in custody.
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Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs appears in court May 10,
2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Tintor's family could not be reached for comment.
During the May parole hearing, Ruggs said he took full
responsibility for the actions that led to Tintor and her dog's
death.
“Not a minute goes by where I don't think of the pain I caused her
family, her friends and the Las Vegas community,” he said during the
hearing, of which the AP obtained a copy.
He said he used his time in custody to educate young people and
others about decision-making and the dangers of drinking and
driving. He also said he met with Tintor's family to apologize.
“I know I can never alleviate the pain that I caused, but if
released I plan to continue to do my work to educate young people on
the dangers of reckless behavior and hopefully avoid future
tragedies,” he said.
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