re: Henry Ruggs involved in serious car accident (Ruggs charged with DUI)

ESPN reporting that he hit a Rav 4 and one person in the Rav 4 died. Also said that Ruggs was not seriously injured.

NRS 484C.440

NRS 484C.440 Penalties for vehicular homicide; segregation of offender; plea bargaining restricted; suspension of sentence and probation prohibited; aggravating factor.

1. A person who commits vehicular homicide pursuant to NRS 484C.130 is guilty of a category A felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison:

(a) For life with the possibility of parole, with eligibility for parole beginning when a minimum of 10 years has been served; or

(b) For a definite term of 25 years, with eligibility for parole beginning when a minimum of 10 years has been served.

2. A person imprisoned pursuant to subsection 1 must, insofar as practicable, be segregated from offenders whose crimes were violent and, insofar as practicable, be assigned to an institution or facility of minimum security.

3. A prosecuting attorney shall not dismiss a charge of vehicular homicide in exchange for a plea of guilty, guilty but mentally ill or nolo contendere to a lesser charge or for any other reason unless the attorney knows or it is obvious that the charge is not supported by probable cause or cannot be proved at the time of trial. A sentence imposed pursuant to subsection 1 may not be suspended nor may probation be granted.

4. If the defendant was transporting a person who is less than 15 years of age in the vehicle at the time of the violation, the court shall consider that fact as an aggravating factor in determining the sentence of the defendant.

(Added to NRS by 2005, 138; A 2007, 1454; 2009, 1873) — (Substituted in revision for part of NRS 484.37955)


NRS 484C.130


NRS 484C.130 Vehicular homicide; affirmative defense. [Effective until the date of the repeal of the federal law requiring each state to make it unlawful for a person to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or greater as a condition to receiving federal funding for the construction of highways in this State.]

1. A person commits vehicular homicide if the person:

(a) Drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle on or off the highways of this State and:

(1) Is under the influence of intoxicating liquor;

(2) Has a concentration of alcohol of 0.08 or more in his or her blood or breath;

(3) Is found by measurement within 2 hours after driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle to have a concentration of alcohol of 0.08 or more in his or her blood or breath;

(4) Is under the influence of a controlled substance or is under the combined influence of intoxicating liquor and a controlled substance;

(5) Inhales, ingests, applies or otherwise uses any chemical, poison or organic solvent, or any compound or combination of any of these, to a degree which renders the person incapable of safely driving or exercising actual physical control of a vehicle; or

(6) Has a prohibited substance in his or her blood or urine, as applicable, in an amount that is equal to or greater than the amount set forth in subsection 3 or 4 of NRS 484C.110;

(b) Proximately causes the death of another person while driving or in actual physical control of a vehicle on or off the highways of this State; and

(c) Has previously been convicted of at least three offenses.

2. If consumption is proven by a preponderance of the evidence, it is an affirmative defense under subparagraph (3) of paragraph (a) of subsection 1 that the defendant consumed a sufficient quantity of alcohol after driving or being in actual physical control of the vehicle, and before his or her blood or breath was tested, to cause the defendant to have a concentration of alcohol of 0.08 or more in his or her blood or breath. A defendant who intends to offer this defense at a trial or preliminary hearing must, not less than 14 days before the trial or hearing or at such other time as the court may direct, file and serve on the prosecuting attorney a written notice of that intent.

3. As used in this section, “offense” means:

(a) A violation of NRS 484C.110, 484C.120 or 484C.430;

(b) A homicide resulting from driving or being in actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance or resulting from any other conduct prohibited by this section or NRS 484C.110 or 484C.430; or

(c) A violation of a law of any other jurisdiction that prohibits the same or similar conduct as set forth in paragraph (a) or (b).

(Added to NRS by 2005, 138; A 2007, 1454; 2009, 1873; 2017, 306) — (Substituted in revision for part of NRS 484.37955)

Looks like he will be gone for a minimum of 10 years, and the wrongful death suit will probably clean him out.

10 years and no money.

Really sad...for everyone.