If you’ve been following the NFL for a while, the name Henry Ruggs III usually brings up two very different images. One is a lightning-fast wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders, a guy who could outrun just about anyone on a football field. The other is much darker—a mangled Chevrolet Corvette on a dark Vegas street and a tragedy that cost a young woman her life.
It’s been a few years since that horrific morning in November 2021. Because news cycles move so fast, a lot of people are asking the same question: is henry ruggs still in prison, or did he somehow slide back into normal life?
The short answer is yes. He is absolutely still behind bars. But the details of where he is and how much longer he’ll be there have actually changed quite a bit recently.
Where is Henry Ruggs right now?
As of early 2026, Ruggs is still an inmate within the Nevada Department of Corrections. For a while, he was actually in a pretty "comfortable" spot—at least as far as prison goes. He had been moved to a minimum-security facility called Stewart Conservation Camp.
While he was there, he was even working as a trustee at the Nevada Governor’s Mansion. Basically, he was doing maintenance and landscaping work. It sparked a ton of outrage online because, to the public, it looked like he was getting "special treatment" while the family of Tina Tintor was still grieving.
But things took a turn recently.
In December 2025, Ruggs was suddenly transferred out of that low-security camp and moved to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City. This isn't a "camp." It’s a medium-security prison with way tighter oversight.
Why the sudden move to tighter security?
Prison officials haven't been super chatty about the specifics, but reports suggest there was some kind of "infraction" or conduct issue. In the prison system, if you mess up at a low-security site, they ship you back to a more restrictive environment pretty quickly.
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He went from mowing lawns at the Governor’s house to being one of 1,600 inmates in a much more traditional, fenced-in facility. It's a reminder that even for a former first-round NFL pick, prison is still prison.
The Timeline: When will he actually be free?
When Ruggs was sentenced in August 2023, the judge handed down a 3-to-10-year sentence. In the legal world, that means he has to serve at least three years before he even gets a chance to ask for parole.
Here is the breakdown of the dates you actually need to know:
- August 2026: This is the big one. This is his earliest parole eligibility date.
- July 2027: This is his mandatory parole review date if he doesn't get out on the first try.
- 2033: The absolute latest he could stay in if he is denied parole repeatedly (unlikely, but legally possible).
So, while he's still locked up today, the reality is that we are likely only months away from seeing him walk free. If he stays out of trouble in this new medium-security facility, there is a very high chance he’ll be out on parole by late summer or fall of 2026.
The Accident that Changed Everything
It’s easy to get lost in the legal dates and prison transfers, but it's worth remembering why he's there in the first place. On November 2, 2021, Ruggs was driving his Corvette at 156 mph on a residential street in Las Vegas.
His blood alcohol level was 0.16%—exactly double the legal limit.
He slammed into the back of a Toyota RAV4 driven by 23-year-old Tina Tintor. The impact was so violent that the Toyota caught fire. Tina and her dog, Max, were trapped inside and passed away at the scene.
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The Raiders cut him almost immediately. His career, which was just starting to take off, vanished in about three seconds.
Why the sentence felt "light" to some
A lot of fans and legal observers were shocked that he only got 3 to 10 years. In Nevada, DUI resulting in death can carry up to 20 years.
The reason he got a "deal" was mostly due to legal technicalities. His lawyers were prepared to challenge the legality of the blood draw that happened at the hospital. The District Attorney, Steve Wolfson, basically admitted that if the blood evidence got thrown out, they might lose the whole case. So, they took the sure thing: a guilty plea and a guaranteed prison stay.
Could he ever play in the NFL again?
This is the question that keeps the sports talk shows running. Ruggs will be 27 years old when he’s eligible for parole in 2026. For a wide receiver, that is still very much in his athletic prime.
Rumors have swirled—mostly fueled by former teammates like Josh Jacobs—that Ruggs is still training behind bars. He’s supposedly keeping his speed up and staying in shape.
But honestly? The road back is incredibly steep.
- The PR Nightmare: Any team that signs him will have to answer for the death of Tina Tintor every single day.
- The NFL Front Office: Roger Goodell has a lot of power here. Even if he’s legally free, the league could suspend him indefinitely.
- The "Speed" Factor: He was known for 4.27 speed. After five years away from pro-level training and nutrition, is he still that guy? Probably not.
While some people point to Michael Vick as a precedent for a comeback after prison, the nature of the crime—taking a life—makes this a much more sensitive situation for NFL owners.
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Life Inside: What has he been doing?
Aside from the landscaping work at the Governor's Mansion, Ruggs has reportedly been trying to stay productive. Records show he actually earned his college degree while incarcerated, finishing with a 4.0 GPA.
He’s also made a few public appearances at "Hope for Prisoners" events. In these, he’s spoken about his regret, saying he wishes he could "turn back the hands of time." He’s mentioned that he hates how his face being in the news serves as a constant, painful reminder to the Tintor family.
Whether that’s genuine remorse or a strategy for his 2026 parole hearing is something only he knows.
What’s Next?
If you're looking for the next update, keep your eyes on the August 2026 parole board calendar. That is when the state of Nevada will decide if Henry Ruggs has done enough to earn his way back into society.
Until then, he remains "Offender #1263013" at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center.
For those following the story, the "actionable" part is keeping an eye on the Nevada Department of Corrections' public inmate search. As he gets closer to that August date, he will likely be moved back to a transitional facility or a "halfway house" like Casa Grande. If you see him move there, it's a 99% guarantee he's about to be released.
The tragic reality is that while Ruggs is counting down the days until his release, the Tintor family doesn't have a calendar to watch. Their loss is permanent, a fact that remains the most important part of this entire story regardless of when a football player gets out of a cell.
Current Status Summary
- Incarcerated: Yes.
- Location: Northern Nevada Correctional Center (Medium Security).
- Earliest Release: August 2026.
- Recent Change: Moved from low-security work camp due to an undisclosed infraction.
To stay updated on his specific release date as August 2026 approaches, you can monitor the official Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) inmate portal using his name or ID number.