LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas judge said Wednesday morning he would decide by the end of the day whether or not to allow prosecutors access to the medical records of former Raiders receiver Henry Ruggs III, whose fiery predawn car crash on Nov. 2 killed a 23-year-old woman and her dog.
Attorneys Richard Schonfeld and David Chesnoff argued to Justice of the Peace Pro Tem Robert Walsh that while Nevada state law allows police and prosecutors to obtain blood tests for blood alcohol levels, first responders should not be compelled to testify about Ruggs’ condition after the crash.
Ruggs’ attorneys argued that Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum had issued an “overbroad” warrant that gave police access to more evidence than simple blood alcohol results from blood, breath and urine tests.
Ruggs, 27, is facing four felony counts — DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm and two reckless driving charges — as well as a misdemeanor charge of possession of a gun while under the influence of alcohol after allegedly driving up to 156 mph with a blood alcohol level of 0.16%, twice the legal limit in Nevada.
He is facing a mandatory two years in prison and up to 50 years in convicted, after his 2020 Chevrolet Corvette hit Tina Tintor’s 2103 Toyota Rav4, which caught fire.
Due next week for a preliminary hearing of evidence, Ruggs and his girlfriend Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington were also injured in the crash, though attorneys for both have declined to give specifics on their injuries while fighting to keep their medical records sealed.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has said Ruggs, who was in a wheelchair and wearing a foam neck brace in his initial court appearance the day after the wreck, had a leg injury and other officials have said Kilgo-Washington underwent surgery for an arm injury.
Kilgo-Washington’s lawyer, Peter Christensen, said he would make a similar argument on Thursday on her behalf.
On Nov. 22, during an alcohol ban compliance hearing following his missing a test, attorney David Chesnoff said a leg cast had been removed as Ruggs now wears an ankle monitor while under house arrest after posting $150,000 bail.
A first-round draft pick out of Alabama in 2020, Ruggs was released by the Raiders less than 24 hours after the crash.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.