An unnamed 20-year-old slept with six of them back at the teams hotel before being spotted by Bulldogs the following night at the Plantation Hotel. She had texted her mom to let her know she'd be home late. They want to know everything that happened the night Tintor died. Ruggs is likely to have a long journey ahead, including potential prison time, before he could have any chance of returning to the NFL but others before have made a comeback. 32 lingering post-draft questions: Will Lions have regrets? Thurston, who was not involved with the accuser, shed light on the situation which threatened to end my career before it even got started. In 2017, he became a contributor for CNN and wrote a piece about what he did wrong and how to prevent impaired driving. Consensual group sex, a girl sleeping with more than one NRL player at the same time, was not unusual.. Read the full extract in the Courier Mail here. Did Pats make Mac Jones happy? She told Pinzon that she hoped this never happens to anyone else. So Ruggs ran roughly a mile to Baptist Medical Center South to get to Scott. Players deny this and say they were given no time to prepare. One of the boys pushed her out and gave her a gob-full. Tina's mother cried. Visit website. Thurston is now married to Samantha Lynch, and the pair have three girls, 18-month-old Lillie, three-year-old Charlie and five-year-old Frankie. Wide-eyed interns arrive in May and leave 10 weeks later Citizens for Life. It felt like the public thought we were all guilty even though a charge had not been laid.. If convicted, the 23-year-old former Alabama standout faces a minimum of two years and a maximum of 50 years in prison, Wolfson told reporters in November. The matter returns to court in April. A TMZ video shows the Corvette on the side of the road, partially on the sidewalk -- hazard lights flashing and doors ajar. Ruggs was booked into Clark County Detention Center. -. He couldn't tell whether it was a car or an SUV; its features had melted into anonymity. I wasn't a part of [the group sex] but certainly we had broken team rules," Thurston said. In 2009, former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter after he struck and killed a construction worker, Mario Reyes, in Miami Beach, Florida. They play American football within their respective countries. The lead detective on the Coffs Harbour case responded to Pearce on June 16, saying: 'I agree totally with Glen Pearce. The story of the Cowboys scout and prospect son Dallas just drafted, Legacy pick: Cardinals take great-great-nephew of team's first-ever draft pick, Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman denied the request. Eleven months after his friend's death, Ruggs announced his college choice in a 1-minute, 50-second video that started with him crouched at Scott's grave. 'I've got four young kids and what they'll find if they Google my name, yeah, it's a factor it's a worry. "We didn't treat her with respect. Bulldogs in the Bluegrass brings Yalies together for life long friendships, connects students to the local Yale community and provides community networking with all the best that Louisville has to offer. It was devastating for the players, the staff, everyone. cost) every 4 weeks unless cancelled as per full Terms and Conditions. To upgrade, call 1300 MY NEWS (696 397), As a Full Digital Access or Paper Delivery + Full Digital Access Member youll get unlimited digital access to every story online, insight and analysis from our expert journalists PLUS enjoy freebies, discounts and benefits with our +Rewards loyalty program. See www.couriermail.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. Everyone was tarnished with these allegations. Bulldogs players handed breach notices as Thurston walks, Follow our live blog for the latest from the Met Gala, Catch up with The Loop, your quick wrap of this morning's news, Keep up with the latest ASX and business news. Former detective Glen Pearce says investigating police didn't think the allegations stacked up enough to take the matter to court. "It was a traumatic time for everyone. Ruggs was taken to University Medical Center, where, according to a police report, an officer noticed Ruggs' speech was slurred. Authorities say Ruggs' blood alcohol content, measured two hours after the crash, was 0.161 -- more than twice the legal limit in Nevada. The Met Gala begins! 'Someone [in the police force] leaked a document to Ray and the information wasn't tested at all it's purely based on what she said and as time went on it was proved that what she was saying was rubbish it basically put fuel on the fire.'. Very large text size ONE of the most senior police officers involved in the investigation of the Bulldogs gang rape allegations in Coffs Harbour has publicly supported the footballers and said: "There was no woman raped." The Director of Public Prosecutions ruled there was insufficient evidence to launch a prosecution. Chesnoff wouldn't comment on a motion the defense made, and a judge granted, in late April requesting permission for Ruggs to go to California for one month -- May 2 to June 2 -- for medical treatment. Brent was driving home from a night of partying in December 2012 when he lost control of his car and crashed, killing his Dallas teammate, Jerry Brown, in the passenger seat. This is not acceptable, what's going on.' Charlotte is daddy's double! Thurston was just a 20-year-old trying to make his name in the NRL when the scandal erupted (Getty), "I was not involved with her on the Wednesday night and I did not see what happened in the pool area on the Sunday morning.". There were photos of that charred vehicle, a RAV4, and news that the driver of that car had died. "The only thing I would say about Henry is that football may have been his life," Adams said, "but his life isn't over in my eyes.". "Think of Kenzli.". He was released from the hospital, released from custody on a $150,000 bond and released by the Las Vegas Raiders. After they left Topgolf, Ruggs and his girlfriend went to a friend's house, according to the police report. Now he's broken his silence about the 2004 Coffs Harbour rape scandal that nearly derailed his career, before it had even begun. Both players have plead not guilty to the charges. 'All these years later, people are going to Google your name and see that you took a DNA test for a rape allegation my kids could Google my name, their friends could Google my name and say, "He took this DNA test, I wonder why?"'. In each of the previous cases, the player did not serve a long . That hearing has been rescheduled four times -- the latest postponement coming last month. She told Pinzon that she never would have imagined all those people would show up that day for Tintor. The woman alleged she was sexually assaulted by six Bulldogs on February 22 at the Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour, northern New South Wales. Tina's mother cried. Jerseys; Jackets; T-Shirts; Shorts & Pants; Sweaters; Youth . Full Digital Access + Weekend Paper Delivery 12 Month Plan costs $312 (min. It was a placeholder job to pay the bills until she figured out who she wanted to be. She knew who she was and also wasn't afraid to be herself. He scours the internet and finds stories of celebrities and privileged people who've committed crimes and done little or no time in Las Vegas. If you smiled, if you didn't smile, everything was scrutinised. No charges were ever laid with all the members of the squad cleared of any wrongdoing. By Shayne Bugden For Daily Mail Australia, Published: 15:39 BST, 2 March 2019 | Updated: 20:56 BST, 2 March 2019. The Wollongong detective, Shawn Adams, was strongly criticised by Judge Andrew Haesler for his conduct in the investigation but the District Court judge ultimately allowed the case to proceed to preserve public confidence in the legal system. The TMZ video reveals Ruggs' reaction to a disaster in real time: He sits on the road and cries as Kilgo-Washington faces him, holding his head in her arms. He returned to the Cowboys in 2014, appearing in one game before retiring from the NFL in 2015. Seeing double! Ruggs was at home in bed. "She was very tomboyish, and she was brave," Hankins said. In the February of that year, a 20-year-old woman filed a complaint with Coffs Harbour police alleging shed been gang raped by a number of the Bulldogs players at a resort after a pre-season trial. 'Our family suffered. Kangaroos' new era marred by shock NZ loss, Cherry-Evans backs possible Hasler return. If you looked the wrong way, smiled the wrong way - you wouldn't wish it upon your worst enemy. "I've never been involved in, or am I aware of, another criminal case involving somebody traveling 156 miles an hour.". Ive never understood the appeal of a gang bang. . Allow up to 5 days for home delivery to commence. (Not available in all areas and is not the Regional edition). Messages to Topgolf and the company's national office were not returned. A celebrity, a football player, was involved in a crash. I can just imagine what the other players went through. At the end of the video, Ruggs places an Alabama cap on Scott's grave. He'd been friends with Scott since elementary school, when they met every morning to play basketball at a YMCA in Montgomery, Alabama. Citing tests by hospital staff before police arrived, the report said Ruggs hadn't suffered head trauma. By midday, the team would hear the woman had accused three to six players of gang rape. Specialty Premium. Go. ", (ESPN requested records for the accident report from the State of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, but the request was denied, citing Lagniappe v. Mack, a 2021 Alabama Supreme Court decision involving a local newspaper's request for body-cam footage in a fatal police shooting. Raiders owner Mark Davis attended the funeral, and Komazec thought it was a nice gesture. When he finally answered and heard the news, he wanted to rush to see Scott, but his brother, Kevontae', had taken his truck to the hospital. I wish I could tell you that I was shocked by the group sex but I wasnt, the 35-year-old wrote. Hobbs also faced a separate reckless driving charge from earlier that month -- he was going 110 mph in a 65 mph zone -- for which he entered a no-contest plea and paid a $250 fine. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. No charges were ever laid and Pearce left the force in disgust at the way the case was managed by senior police. Not in conjunction with any other offer. Dozens of friends and ex-teammates were contacted for this story, and a number of them either didn't reply or declined to comment. "I was angry for a long time but now, looking back, I can understand that she went through a lot too. I remember looking down on him.". Several players from the 2004 Bulldogs team (pictured) have spoken out about the toll the Coffs scandal took on them - and the fact no charges were ever laid against any of them. The Raiders had weathered Jon Gruden's email scandal, and his bitter departure, and were 5-2 heading into a Week 9 road game against the New York Giants. On the Saturday night, according to Thurston, the 20-year-old woman wanted to meet up with the players again but they werent interested. 'Winning the grand final that year is the best moment in my football career,' Ryan says. "We believe, still to this day, we had done nothing wrong and it was just an unfortunate event that had occurred," he said. He received his first football scholarship offer after the second game of the season. Like all clubs, it has a duty of care.These are guys in their early 20s who earn in the region of $100,000 a year for playing football. Malcolm Noad is announced as the new Bulldogs CEO. That morning, the woman allegedly had consensual sex with one of the players near the hotels pool. "I wish I could tell you that I was shocked by the group sex - but I wasn't," Thurston wrote. February 24: Police have by now identified 'significant errors' in the five statements given by the woman - and the number of errors increased over time, according to Pearce. Ryan and El Masri are not alone in speaking out about how the Coffs Harbour scandal has left its mark on them. Editor's note: Wednesday marks one year since Henry Ruggs III was involved in a fatal car crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor in Las Vegas. His blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit at the time of the crash and Ruggs had a loaded firearm in his vehicle. 'There was no grounds whatsoever for that. My wife was pregnant at the time, and some of the questions she was asked about it, it was a very stressful time. NRL great Johnathan Thurston has opened up on the Canterbury Bulldogs rape scandal which saw his young rugby league career briefly descend into chaos. Manly Sea Eagles NRL player Dylan Walker has been stood down. That's the thing -- why would you be two[-faced]?". Michael Leone, who lives along South Rainbow Boulevard, was awake and feeding his 6-month-old son when he heard a boom. Pinzon looked at their solemn faces and knew -- it was Tintor's family. She wasnt impressed, he said. LAS VEGAS -- On the drive home from an overnight shift at Paris Casino, Pedja Komazec came upon a crash scene. It's official! Biden FINALLY announces COVID vaccine requirement for travelers to US will be Have scientists finally created a jab to keep ALL flu strains at bay? "You're under pressure when you're on camera," she laughed. Better late than never! Thurston has also been the subject of a nasty email that received widespread circulation relating to the Coffs Harbour situation, and he was devastated when he saw it. See www.couriermail.com.au/subscriptiontermsfor full details. Her uncle said some of that came out of necessity. The pioneering heart operation that only takes an hour and doesn't leave a scar is performed on first Briton, Martin Lewis reveals how to get a cheaper supermarket shop and FREE food. NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg also has the discretion to stand down players facing other serious charges, including violence against women and children. Any Questions? Picture: John Grainger. But the sexual assault allegations levelled against Thurston and his teammates threatened to end his career. A valid active email address and Australian mobile phone number are required for account set up. COFFS HARBOUR SCANDAL TIMELINE February 18, 2004: A 20-year-old woman told police she had consensual sex with six Bulldogs players on this date while they were in Coffs Harbour,. As a person who wasnt even in the room his side of the story doesnt seem very relevant. Thurston explained in his account how group sex was commonplace early on in his career, so when his teammates revealed that the unnamed woman involved in the incident had "slept with six of them" while partying at the Plantation Hotel in Coffs Harbour, Thurston was unmoved. Hatten was drafted into a Brazilian league as an import player, a term used to indicate players drafted from America. There were photos of that charred vehicle, a RAV4, and news that the driver of that car had died. How could this happen when Ruggs' life and career had been defined by a prior deadly crash? Every game of every round of the NRL LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. March 9: Detective Chief Inspector Jason Breton, the head of the investigation, confirms to the ABC that Bulldogs players are being investigated for gang sexual assault, a new offence at the time which carried a life sentence and insists 'there's a seventh player involved' and that members of the Bulldogs organisation 'know what happened'. . To share it with the people who were there through thick and thin for us, that was the most special bit to me. Authorities say Ruggs tore through Las Vegas' valley west of the Strip at 156 mph in his Corvette Stingray. Leone said he saw a black SUV pull up behind the accident scene, and then noticed a white car also parked not far away. He's going to do something. The Bulldogs are currently second on the NRL ladder after a 38-12 win over the Dragons on Saturday. One of the lead detectives on the case, Glen Pearce, also told the Daily Mail the womans allegations didnt stack up within 48, and two months later, police announced they would not charge any players after the DPP found insufficient evidence to prosecute. "Get me the f--- out of here," Ruggs screamed. "Everything was in slow motion," Adams said. Milla Keegan, Laila McLaughlin, Zoe Tarlinton, Annalise Crawley . Renewals occur unless cancelled as per full Terms and Conditions. New customers only. Thurston was not involved in the incident. Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia. Brent faced up to 20 years in prison, but was sentenced to 180 days in jail and 10 years of probation. As revealed by News Corp, ARL Commission boss Peter V'landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo have hatched plans to kick-off the 2024 season at the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium, home to NFL side Las . Catch up with The Loop, 'Until we meet in heaven': Maryborough community comes to grips with triple fatality as loved ones remembered, Perfect storm brewing for housing market and it could make buying your own home a pipedream, Celebrities arrive at the Met Gala for fashion's biggest night, Catley and Foord out of Champions League final after Wolfsburg beat Arsenal in extra time, Texas college baseball player accidentally shot during game. No charges were ever laid and all players cleared of any wrongdoing. Mortimer says two players will be severely disciplined for breaching the club's code of conduct. Full Digital Access 12 Month Plan costs $208 (min.cost) for the first 12 months, charged as $16 every 4 weeks. February 24:Bulldogs players and official have a meeting to address the allegations. Club chairman George Peponis says the move 'is not specifically' about Coffs Harbour. They became best friends at Robert E. Lee High School and dreamed of getting out of Montgomery and playing in the NBA. He played in 11 games for the Washington Football Team in 2011 and spent his last season in the NFL with New England Patriots in 2012. the allegation by a Coffs Harbour woman that she was gang raped by a number of Bulldogs players. THE RAIDERS HELD a team meeting on Monday, Nov. 1. He would tally up 29 NRL games across three seasons with the Bulldogs. "So why was I sick and why at that time? There were cameras everywhere you went. Bulldogs team bosses have issued an unspecified number of players with breach notices detailing the results of a club investigation into their behaviour at Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid . I remember being in an airport with the team and everyone was looked at differently a look of, Hang on a sec, is that one of them, could that be one of the guilty guys?. She was born premature, and endured bombings in the former Yugoslavia. That dynamic has to be as terrifying as having sex with a gun to your head. There was little hesitation when deciding what to call him. High Roller, the city's famous 550-foot observation wheel, was in Ruggs' sight line. Still, a handful of strangers felt compelled to attend. She hoped Tintor's family would hear about the walk and know that the city of Las Vegas was thinking about them. The North Queensland Cowboys legend became the first member of the 2004 Bulldogs squad to open up about the incident, doing so in his new book, Johnathan Thurston: The Autobiography. The arrival of youngster Steve Mortimer and veteran Bob McCarthy in 1976 signalled a new beginning at the Canterbury club. A lot of decent people, family people, lost their jobs, El Masri said. It will cover the Coffs Harbour allegations, new . 'There was no independent evidence to support what she was saying but there wasoverwhelming evidence to support the Bulldogs from a variety of sources.'. According to Thurston's account, after spotting the woman at the Plantation Hotel, he and a couple of teammates hopped in a taxi at 5am ahead of the team's 7am recovery session the next day, when the woman allegedly wanted to meet up with members of the Bulldogs squad again. ", NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy also issued a statement, saying, Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim of this horrific tragedy. The scandal saw Bulldogs players accused of sexual assault after a night out in Coffs Harbour in 2004. Driving Range. But after that I read in the news, 'Hey I'm going to give him all the support he needs.' He said he reached out to Ruggs but Ruggs never responded. Each payment, once made, is non-refundable, subject to law. After working six days in a row, Tina Tintor had been out with a friend, walking her golden retriever, Max. Komazec has come to the area late at night for more than half a year now, when a memorial was across the street, when someone wrote in chalk, "DEPORT THE RAIDERS.". Out in Dallas, Cowboys safety Damontae Kazee had been arrested on suspicion of DWI during his team's bye two weeks earlier, and that was front of mind for the Las Vegas staff. I wish we could have come out and cleared our names straight away because everythi. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. When do we want it? Somebody got killed, he thought. In January 2005 Pearce filed a formal report asking for the woman who made the allegations to be charged with making a false statement. "I never knew Tina," Las Vegas resident Bob Kendzior said. Ryan was the Bulldogs' captain when they won the 2004 grand final at the end of an incredibly damaging year for the club that saw a 20-year-old woman accuse players of gang-raping her after a pre-season trial. Under Nevada law, Ruggs would not be eligible for probation if he's convicted, and faces between two and 20 years in prison. Other players are threatened with probation. "I've got a wife and kids and all of the other players have families," he said. She was never shy. February 18, 2004:A 20-year-old woman told police she had consensual sex with six Bulldogs players on this date while they were in Coffs Harbour, northern NSW, to play a trial game.
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