Ian Cramer, the 43-year-old son of U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., is set to change his plea on Friday in connection with a high-speed chase that resulted in the homicide of a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy last December.
Cramer, who initially pleaded not guilty to charges including homicide while fleeing a peace officer, is facing up to 20 years in prison for his alleged role in the death of Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin.
The 53-year-old deputy was killed when Cramer’s vehicle crashed head-on into his patrol car during a pursuit that reached speeds over 100 mph.
The incident began at a Bismarck hospital where Cramer had been taken by his mother due to mental health concerns.
Ian Cramer
Cramer’s mother had been taking him to the police station to deal with a traffic citation when he became increasingly aggravated, and she felt the need to take him to the emergency room.
Court documents allege that after his mother got out of the vehicle, Cramer climbed into the front seat and stole his parents’ car, smashing through a garage door while fleeing the scene. The ensuing chase ended tragically with Deputy Martin’s death.
Sen. Cramer has publicly addressed his son’s struggles, stating that Ian “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.”
In addition to the charges related to Deputy Martin’s death, Ian Cramer is facing separate felony charges stemming from the events at the hospital.
He has pleaded not guilty to these charges, with a jury trial scheduled for November.