North Dakota US Sen. Kevin Cramer’s son pleads guilty in car-chase death of a deputy

BISMARCK, N.D. — The adult son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer pleaded guilty on Friday to all the charges he faced in connection with a car-chase crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy.

Ian Cramer, 43, changed his plea in the Dec. 6, 2023, death of Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, 53. The charges included homicide while fleeing peace officer, fleeing a peace officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, driving under suspension, possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

The judge ordered a mental evaluation ahead of his sentencing. The homicide offense alone is punishable in North Dakota by up to 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

Kevin Cramer, a Republican who is running for a second Senate term, has said his son “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. ’s earlier story follows below.

BISMARCK, N.D. — The adult son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer is scheduled to change his not-guilty plea on Friday in the crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff's deputy last year.

Ian Cramer, 43, was charged with homicide while fleeing a peace officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, fleeing an officer and drug- and driving-related offenses in the Dec. 6, 2023, pursuit and crash that killed Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Martin, 53.

Cramer was initially charged with manslaughter, later upgraded to the homicide offense, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine. In April, Cramer pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A notice filed Wednesday indicated his change of plea, but court filings didn't provide details.

Cramer's father, Kevin Cramer, a Republican running for his second Senate term, has said his son “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.”

Before the crash, Ian Cramer’s mother had taken him to a hospital because of mental health concerns. When she stepped out of the vehicle, Ian Cramer crawled into the driver's seat and sped in reverse, smashing through a closed garage door to the ambulance bay and fleeing the hospital, Bismarck police said.

He later fled again when a deputy confronted him in Hazen, about 70 miles from Bismarck, and hit speeds over 100 mph , continuing even after a spiked device flattened two tires, according to court documents.

More spikes were set up, and Cramer swerved and then crashed head-on into Martin’s patrol vehicle, launching the deputy about 100 feet , authorities said. Martin was pronounced dead at a hospital.

In March, Ian Cramer pleaded not guilty to separate felony charges of theft, criminal mischief and reckless endangerment in connection with the events at the hospital. A jury trial was scheduled for November. Cramer has been held at the McLean County Jail in Washburn on $500,000 cash bail.

Hollingsworth reported from MISSION, Kansas.

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