Henry Ruggs III’s felony DUI case is being delayed as a Nevada judge will be left to determine which justice of the peace should handle a preliminary hearing, per ESPN.
Ruggs, a former NFL wide receiver, is accused of killing a woman in a drunken car crash in 2021 and could face up to 50 years in prison if found guilty.
On Monday, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Harmony Letizia informed Ruggs and his lawyers of her inability to decide whether she or another judge should take charge of the hearing as she lacks the authority. A hearing is needed to decide whether there’s enough evidence to proceed with a trial against Ruggs for charges of reckless driving and driving under the influence causing death. He has also been charged with gun possession while under the influence of alcohol.
The defendant’s lawyers, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, said they will be taking the matter to Clark County District Court again. A judge said that the case would be assigned to the Las Vegas DUI specialty court docket, however, the judge presiding over those cases recused himself as he had mentioned Ruggs’ charges during his reelection campaign last year.
Prosecutors are planning to present evidence showing the former player had a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit and was driving at 156 mph before the crash that led to 23-year-old Tina O. Tintor losing her life.
Ruggs, the 12th overall pick in 2020, remains under house arrest.
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The 24-year-old was in his second year with the Raiders at the time of the incident. They released him immediately after.
