Rudy Eugene Ruiz sentenced six-to-15 years for fatal New Year’s Day DUI

The man arrested and charged in the death of a scooter rider on New Year’s Day was spared the maximum sentence for DUI causing death.

Rudy Eugene Ruiz was given a six-to-15-year prison sentence this in Fifth Judicial District Court.

He could have been sentenced eight-to-20 years for the crime.

Ruiz also received a $2,000 fine along with an order from the judge to pay $600 in restitution fees to the Nye County Public Administrator and $3,000 to the victim’s family for funeral expenses.

He got 234 days credit for time served. Ruiz entered guilty plea before Judge Kimberly Wanker in May

Defense attorney Harry Gensler said his wheelchair-bound client has since expressed regret for his actions.

“He accepted his responsibility right away and he feels terrible about it,” Gensler said. “He is very upset and remorseful and he fessed up right away, which is why I think the judge did not give him the maximum sentence of 8-to-20 years in prison. He also got 234 days credit for time served.”

Ruiz was taken into custody on the morning of New Year’s Day after running a stop sign and striking the operator of a scooter, identified as Harold Douglas Strickland, at the intersection of Betty Avenue and Leslie Street.

Strickland, according to Nye County Sheriff’s deputies, had the right of way.

Gensler noted that the high-impact collision was also captured on video.

“The gentleman on the moped had a camera on his helmet while he was riding, so he was essentially videoing it at the time of the accident,” he said. “He basically videoed his own death.”

Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @pvtimes