LAS VEGAS — Attorneys for former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III are fighting to keep his medical records out of the hands of prosecutors charging him with driving under the influence in a fiery crash that killed a woman and cost Ruggs his NFL job.
Ruggs, 22, didn’t appear in person in court Wednesday, as prosecutors filed additional charges that could mean additional prison time if the former first-round NFL draft pick is convicted.
He is accused of driving 156 mph with a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit in Nevada when his sports car slammed into the rear of Tina Tintor’s vehicle early Nov. 2.
Tintor’s funeral is scheduled for Thursday. Ruggs is being held on house arrest with strict conditions while his criminal case proceeds.
Ruggs’ attorneys, David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld, cited state privacy law and convinced a judge to at least temporarily block access to Ruggs’ medical records. Chesnoff said state law supersedes federal health records privacy requirements.
Attorney Peter Christiansen obtained the same temporary block on behalf of Ruggs’ girlfriend, Kiara Je’nai Kilgo-Washington. She was with Ruggs and was also injured in the crash.
The judge set a Dec. 8 hearing date to decide if their medical records must be turned over to police and prosecutors.