On April 5, 2021, former Oakland Raider Henry Ruggs III was sentenced to serve prison time after taking a plea deal for a fatal DUI crash that occurred in November 2020. The crash resulted in the death of a 22-year-old woman and left two other people injured.
Ruggs, who was drafted by the Raiders in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, was driving his car in Las Vegas when he crashed into another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle, 22-year-old Alyssa Shepherd, was killed in the crash. Two other passengers in Shepherd’s car were injured.
Ruggs was charged with one count of DUI resulting in death and two counts of DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges, but eventually accepted a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to one count of DUI resulting in death and one count of DUI resulting in substantial bodily harm.
As part of the plea deal, Ruggs was sentenced to four to 20 years in prison. He will also have to pay a fine of $10,000 and perform 200 hours of community service. In addition, he will be required to attend a victim impact panel and will have his driver’s license suspended for three years.
Ruggs’ attorney released a statement expressing his client’s remorse for the crash and its consequences. “Henry is deeply sorry for the tragedy that occurred and he takes full responsibility for his actions,” the statement read. “He is committed to doing whatever he can to make amends and to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.”
The tragic crash serves as a reminder of the dangers of driving under the influence. It is important for drivers to remember that drinking and driving can have serious consequences and can lead to devastating accidents like this one.
