North Dakota senator's son sentenced to 28 years in prison for fatal police chase

Ian Cramer, the son of North Dakota GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer, was sentenced on Monday to 28 years in prison for his role in a car chase that resulted in the death of a sheriff's deputy.

Ian Cramer, 43, pleaded guilty in September to all charges against him, which included homicide while fleeing a peace officer, fleeing a peace officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, and various drug charges, among others, the Associated Press reported.

The senator's son led police on a violent chase after crashing a Chevrolet Tahoe through a hospital emergency room bay, that ultimately ended in his collision with a squad car on Dec. 6, 2023, which killed Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin.

State District Judge Bobbi Weiler sentenced Ian Cramer to 38 years in prison with 10 years suspended, three years of probation and credit for over a year served in jail. She also referred him for treatment for mental health and drug addiction.

“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 apologized to Martin's family when asked if he would like to speak before the sentencing, and maintained that he did not intend to kill Martin, despite being on drugs at the time. He previously admitted to using methamphetamine and bath salts on the day of the chase.

Kevin Cramer told reporters that he commends the officers, court and jail, but that he was disappointed his son's mental health was not taken more seriously by the court.

"I don’t think there’s any question, there’s not one person, including Ian, who doesn’t know that they were his choices that led to this, whatever they may be, under whatever condition, choices that go back many years," he added. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.