Ruggs III Parole Denied
Former NFL star Henry Ruggs III denied parole after fatal DUI conviction
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Investigators said Ruggs was driving at speeds “up to 156 mph” and that after he refused a field sobriety test, a blood test taken about two hours later showed his blood-alcohol content was “.161% — more than twice the legal limit” in Nevada.
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According to reports, Ruggs and his girlfriend were seen drinking at a TopGolf location on the Las Vegas Strip in the hours before the crash, shortly before the fatal collision.
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Board executive director Kathi Baker told The Associated Press that Ruggs’ next parole review would come “three months before his mandatory parole release date of Aug. 27, 2027,” and that the mandatory-parole rule is framed as requiring a review (not an automatic release) unless the inmate is considered a public-safety danger under Nevada standards.
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Ruggs previously spoke at a “Hope for Prisoners” event, saying: “One, I wish I could turn back the hands of time,” and apologizing for “being a part of that situation” and for his face “always in the news.” Separately, at the parole hearing, attorney David Chesnoff told commissioners he had “heartfelt feelings that releasing Henry will be the right thing to do,” and noted Tintor’s family had filed a wrongful-death lawsuit that “appears to have been settled for an undisclosed amount.”
The Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners denied parole to former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III on Thursday, keeping him behind bars nearly five years after a high-speed drunk-driving crash killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor and her dog. Associated Press reported that four votes were needed to approve release — and the board did not reach that threshold.
Ruggs is serving a 3-to-10-year sentence at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center. His next parole review will not come until roughly three months before his mandatory release date of August 27, 2027, CBS Sports reported.
A Fatal Crash at 156 mph With Double the Legal Limit
On November 2, 2021, at around 3:39 a.m., Ruggs drove his Chevrolet Corvette into the back of Tina Tintor's Toyota RAV4 on a Las Vegas street. His car had reached speeds up to 156 mph before impact, slowing only to 127 mph at the moment of the collision, according to CBS Sports. Tintor's vehicle burst into flames, killing her and her dog, Max.
A blood test taken about two hours after the crash showed Ruggs' blood-alcohol content at 0.161% — more than twice Nevada's legal limit of 0.08%, CBS Sports reported. Ruggs and his girlfriend had been seen drinking at a TopGolf on the Las Vegas Strip in the hours before the crash. The Raiders released him from the team that same evening.
Prison Record Includes a 4.0 GPA and a Security Downgrade
Ruggs pleaded guilty in May 2023 and was sentenced in August 2023. Inside prison, his record was mixed. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama with a 4.0 GPA, completed a DUI course, and led fitness classes for fellow inmates, according to CBS Sports. The board had previously classified him as a low-risk offender.
But in late 2025, Ruggs was moved from a low-security conservation camp to the medium-security Northern Nevada Correctional Center after unspecified rule violations, CBS Sports reported. A prison spokesperson said offenders can be "reverted back to a higher level" based on the "nature and severity" of infractions. Legal analysts say that transfer likely weighed against his parole bid.
Ruggs Asked for Release; His Attorneys Cited Settled Lawsuit
At the May 11 hearing, Ruggs appeared virtually before the board and asked to be released. He said he had completed programming and supported other inmates through education and fitness. "Not a minute goes by where I don't think of the pain I caused her family," he said, according to CBS Sports.
His attorney, David Chesnoff, told commissioners he had "heartfelt feelings that releasing Henry will be the right thing to do." Chesnoff also noted that the Tintor family's wrongful-death lawsuit "appears to have been settled for an undisclosed amount," according to CBS Sports. Tintor's family attended the hearing but did not speak publicly. Ruggs' father testified that his son "understands that a life was lost, something that can never be undone."
Mandatory Release in 2027 Is a Review, Not a Guarantee
Board executive director Kathi Baker told the Associated Press that Ruggs' next review will come "three months before his mandatory parole release date of Aug. 27, 2027." Under Nevada law, that review is not automatic freedom. The board can still deny release if it decides the person poses a public-safety risk.
The case has drawn renewed attention from Nevada DUI advocacy groups, who have cited Ruggs' plea deal — which capped his sentence at 10 years despite a potential exposure of 50 years — as a reason to push for stricter sentencing in high-speed fatal crashes. Ruggs will be 28 years old when his mandatory release window opens in August 2027.
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