In Bismarck, North Dakota, Sen. Kevin Cramer’s son, Ian Cramer, received an extended legal sentence on Monday, compounding his lengthy existing prison term linked to the tragic death of a sheriff’s deputy during a high-speed pursuit. Ian, aged 44, was initially given a 28-year prison sentence in 2023 following Deputy Paul Martin’s death. Martin lost his life when Ian crashed into his patrol vehicle, causing fatal injuries.
Earlier this year, Ian admitted guilt to charges including theft, criminal mischief, and reckless endangerment, all related to the risky escapade that resulted in the fatal collision. State District Judge Jackson Lofgren, presided over Ian’s hearing this Monday, decided on a suspended prison term accompanied by three years of supervised probation, starting post his parole. Judge Lofgren cautioned Ian that any breach or non-compliance with probation terms could lead to an additional 25-year imprisonment.
During the court session, Ian chose not to speak in his defense. His entanglements with the law began when his mother, alarmed by his mental state, took him to the hospital on December 6, 2023. Court documents reveal that Ian had escaped from the hospital by driving his parents’ vehicle through the ambulance bay’s closed doors. Later, a chase ensued when officers attempted to apprehend him in Hazen, located approximately 70 miles from Bismarck.
Reports indicate that Ian, driving at speeds exceeding 100 mph, persisted with his escape even after tire spikes flattened his tires. Eventually, the chase led to a deadly crash as Ian veered into Deputy Martin’s patrol car, leading to Martin’s fatal incident. During Monday’s court proceedings concerning the hospital escape incident, the prosecution, led by Senior Attorney Gabrielle Goter, proposed a 15-year prison sentence to be served consecutively with his existing sentence, along with an additional three years of probation.
In contrast, Ian’s lawyer, Kevin McCabe, advocated for the sentences to run concurrently. Additionally, Ian’s mother pleaded with the judge to not impose any further prison time on her son. Over the past year, Senator Kevin Cramer was reelected into the Senate, sustaining his political career amidst his son’s ongoing legal challenges.