Son Of U.S. Senator Sentenced To 28 Years In Prison

Ian Cramer, the son of Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), was sentenced to 28 years in prison on Monday related to a chase with law enforcement that resulted in the death of a local sheriff’s deputy.

The 43-year-old pleaded guilty in September to all charges against him, including homicide while fleeing a peace officer, reckless endangerment, and drug-related offenses.

Ian Cramer, the son of North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer was sentenced to 28 years in prison for his role in a state deputy’s death in a 2023 high-speed chase. https://t.co/PYPxQkttPV

— The Bismarck Tribune (@bistrib) December 30, 2024

From the Associated Press:

State District Judge Bobbi Weiler handed down the sentence of 38 years with 10 years suspended, three years of probation and credit for over a year served in jail. She also included recommended treatment for addiction and mental health. But he likely won’t serve the full 28 years, the judge said.

“The (state) Department of Corrections has their own policy on how much time you’re going to serve,” Weiler said. “These are not mandatory minimums, which means that you’re probably going to serve a small portion of that 28 years and be out on parole, so that’ll … give you an opportunity to have a second chance that Deputy Martin does not have, nor does his family have.”

Cramer, who wore orange and sat quietly next to his public defender, apologized to Martin’s family when asked if he would like to speak.

“I had no intention to do any of this. It was an accident, and I just hope that someday they can forgive me, and I think the best thing for me is to go to a hospital and just get more help,” Ian Cramer said.

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Much of the sentencing focused on Cramer’s addiction and mental health. Mercer County State’s Attorney Todd Schwarz, citing doctors, said Ian Cramer had been experiencing long-term effects of “taking drugs to put himself into a mentally ill state.”

Kevin Cramer’s son sentenced to 28 years over chase, fatal car crash https://t.co/mnEHJ6Lp62

— The Hill (@thehill) December 30, 2024

Ian Cramer sentenced to 28 years in death of Mercer County deputy, drug charges https://t.co/yTqFO9YIni

— KX News – Minot (@KXNewsMinot) December 30, 2024

The Hill reports:

Martin was outside his patrol car, attempting to deploy a tire deflation device to end the pursuit of Ian Cramer when he was killed.

Kevin Cramer, who has served North Dakota in the Senate since 2019, said last year his son was suffering from mental health issues that cause him to experience paranoia and hallucinations.

The senator said his wife, Kris, had taken their son to the emergency room after he was insisting to see his brother, Ike, who died in 2018. When Kris Cramer stepped out of the vehicle, Ian Cramer jumped into the driver’s seat and fled.

The sentencing focused on Ian Cramer’s addiction and his mental health issues. He admitted to using methamphetamine and bath salts the day of the crash, the county attorney said.

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.

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