Ian Cramer, the 43-year-old son of North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison for causing the death of a sheriff’s deputy during a high-speed car chase. The incident began when Cramer fled from a hospital in a Chevrolet Tahoe, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph, and ended when he crashed head-on into the deputy’s squad car.
Cramer expressed remorse in court on Monday, stating, “I had no intention to do any of this.” He addressed the family of the deceased Deputy Paul Martin, expressing his hope for their eventual forgiveness. Despite the 28-year sentence, it is likely that Cramer will serve only a fraction of this time due to the terms of his plea deal and prison policy, as explained by State District Judge Bobbi Weiler.
The Department of Corrections has its own policy on how much time an inmate will serve, Weiler noted. This means that Cramer could serve a small portion of his sentence and be released on parole, providing him with a second chance that Deputy Martin and his family will never have.
Cramer pleaded guilty in September and claimed that the fatal incident on December 6, 2023, was an accident resulting from mental health issues caused by his use of methamphetamine and “bath salts.” On the day of the crash, Cramer had been taken to a hospital by his mother after making alarming statements. He then fled the hospital in his mother’s vehicle, driving approximately 70 miles before crashing into Martin’s squad car.
During the sentencing, both the prosecution and defense acknowledged Cramer’s long-term mental health issues, which they attributed to his drug use. His mother, Kris Cramer, expressed her feelings of responsibility for the incident in court, stating that her son had “hurt his brain a lot on his own.”
Senator Cramer, a reelected Republican, has previously spoken about his son’s serious mental disorders, which include severe paranoia and hallucinations. He expressed disappointment that his son’s mental health issues were not given more consideration during the sentencing. He acknowledged, however, that his son’s choices, made under whatever conditions, led to the tragic incident.
Judge Weiler ultimately sentenced Ian Cramer to 38 years in prison, with 10 years suspended, and three years of probation.