Ex-Raider Henry Ruggs’ DUI case won’t move to different court

Former Raiders player Henry Ruggs waits in court for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs faces felony DUI charges in connection with a lethal crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoPrevious Raiders gamer Henry Ruggs arrives in court for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs faces felony DUI charges in connection with a lethal crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoPrevious Raiders player Henry Ruggs waits in court for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs deals with felony DUI charges in connection with a lethal crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoPrevious Raiders gamer Henry Ruggs goes out of court after a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs faces felony DUI charges in connection with a fatal crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoPrevious Raiders gamer Henry Ruggs waits in court for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs deals with felony DUI charges in connection with a lethal crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoPrevious Raiders player Henry Ruggs, right, appears in court with one of his attorneys, Richard Schonfeld, for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs deals with felony DUI charges in connection with a lethal crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoFormer Raiders player Henry Ruggs, right, appears in court with his attorneys, Richard Schonfeld, left, and David Chesnoff, for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs faces felony DUI charges in connection with a lethal crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoFormer Raiders player Henry Ruggs, right, appears in court with among his attorneys, Richard Schonfeld, for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs deals with felony DUI charges in connection with a deadly crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoFormer Raiders gamer Henry Ruggs waits in court for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs deals with felony DUI charges in connection with a deadly crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoPrevious Raiders player Henry Ruggs waits in court for a hearing at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs deals with felony DUI charges in connection with a lethal crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoJustice of the Peace Harmony Leticia presides during a hearing for former Raiders player Henry Ruggs in court at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Monday, March 6, 2023. Ruggs faces felony DUI charges in connection with a deadly crash in 2021. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto
Defense lawyer for former Raiders gamer Henry Ruggs are continuing to promote a judge to discuss why he recused himself from commanding the deadly DUI case.

The case, which has actually bounced in between various judges in the Las Vegas Justice Court in current weeks, is currently scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 4 in front of Justice of the Peace Harmony Letizia, who is set to decide at the hearing if prosecutors have sufficient evidence for Ruggs to stand trial.

Letizia ruled on Monday that she did not have jurisdiction to approve a motion moving the case back to Justice of the Peace Joe Bonaventure's courtroom.

Ruggs is facing charges of DUI, reckless driving and belongings of a firearm while under the impact in connection with the intense November 2021 crash that eliminated 23-year-old Tina Tintor.

Defense attorneys David Chesnoff and Richard Schonfeld had filed a motion asking Letizia to undo Bonaventure's ruling in which he recused himself from the case, or to order Bonaventure to make a more in-depth description for why he can't manage the proceedings.

Letizia ruled on Monday that she does not have the power to compel Bonaventure to make any judgments. Chesnoff and Schonfeld said they are thinking about submitting another legal challenge in District Court.

Bonaventure recused himself last month and specified that he was worried about commanding the proceedings due to the fact that of remarks he made about the case while running for office. He had formerly presided over Ruggs' initial court look, during which he set a $150,000 bail.

Ruggs is accused of increasing to 156 mph seconds before the deadly crash in a residential area near Rainbow Boulevard and Spring Valley Parkway. Prosecutors have actually stated that after the crash, his blood alcohol level was 0.16 percent, twice the legal limit for chauffeurs in Nevada.

The case had actually formerly been overseen by Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman, who presided over DUI specialty court.

Ruggs' attorneys had argued he was being "singled out" when Zimmerman relocated to continue managing the case although Bonaventure took over the specialized court during routine judicial reassignments.

District Judge Jennifer Schwartz had ordered the case be returned to Bonaventure's department. She kept in mind in the order that the case need to be transferred to Letizia's department if there was not a DUI specialty court to command it.

Chesnoff stated during Monday's hearing that Chief Justice of the Peace Cynthia Cruz had declined to consult with them to negotiate which judge will supervise the case.

"We desire that on the record," Chesnoff stated.

In an emailed declaration sent out Monday early morning, the judge stated she was offered a one-day notice for the hearing, and might not consult with Ruggs' defense attorneys due to the fact that of her schedule.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Eric Bauman did not argue for or versus moving the case to a various department. He declined to talk about the interactions with Cruz.

"We just want to go forward. We do not care where," Bauman stated about the case.

Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. Follow @k_newberg on Twitter.