BISMARCK, N.D.—The adult son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer is anticipated to alter his plea on Friday regarding a pursuit and crash that resulted in the death of a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy last year.
Ian Cramer, 43, was set to commence trial next week starting on Tuesday for charges including homicide while fleeing a peace officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer, and drug- and driving-related offenses linked to the pursuit and crash on Dec. 6, 2023, which led to the death of Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, 53.
Cramer entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in April. Initially charged with manslaughter, the offense was later escalated to homicide, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine. A notice filed on Wednesday indicates that his change of plea is scheduled for Friday via videoconference.
The specifics of Cramer’s change of plea were not immediately clear. The Associated Press attempted to contact Cramer’s attorney and Mercer County State’s Attorney Todd Schwarz by phone.
Bismarck police reported that Ian Cramer’s mother had taken him to a hospital due to mental health concerns. Court documents suggest that after his mother exited the vehicle, he crawled into the driver’s seat of his parents’ car and reversed through the closed garage door of the hospital’s ambulance bay. Subsequently, he fled from deputies when confronted in Hazen, approximately 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Bismarck.
According to court documents, Cramer reached speeds exceeding 100 mph (160 kph) and continued driving even after two tires were flattened by a spiked device. More spikes were deployed, and Cramer swerved, ultimately crashing head-on into Martin’s patrol vehicle, propelling him roughly 100 feet (30 meters), resulting in Martin’s death at a local hospital.
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In March, Ian Cramer pleaded not guilty to separate felony charges of theft, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment related to the incidents at the hospital. A jury trial is set for November.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican, has stated that his son “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.” Ian Cramer is currently incarcerated at the McLean County Jail in Washburn on $500,000 cash bail.
By Jack Dura
