Senator's son changes his plea in 2023 traffic accident case that killed North Dakota lawmaker

BISMARCK, N.D. — The adult son of U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer is expected to change his guilty plea on Friday in connection with a chase and subsequent crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff's deputy last year.

The trial of Ian Cramer, 43, was scheduled to take place next week beginning Tuesday on charges of manslaughter while fleeing a police officer, evading apprehension, reckless endangerment, fleeing a police officer, and drug and traffic offenses in connection with the chase and fatal crash of 53-year-old Mercer County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Martin on Dec. 6, 2023.

Cramer pleaded not guilty in April to manslaughter, but the charge was later upgraded to murder, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine. A notice filed Wednesday indicates his change of guilty plea is scheduled for Friday via videoconference.

The details of Cramer's changed confession were not immediately clear. The Associated Press left phone messages with Cramer's attorney and Todd Schwarz, the Mercer County prosecutor.

Bismarck police said Ian Cramer's mother took him to a hospital for mental health issues. According to court documents, he crawled into the driver's seat of his parents' car after his mother got out and backed through the closed garage door of the hospital's infirmary. According to court documents, he later fled from police officers when one stopped him in Hazen, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) from Bismarck.

Cramer reached speeds of over 100 mph and continued driving even after a device fitted with nails flattened two tires, court documents show. More nails were installed, Cramer swerved and crashed head-on into Martin's patrol car, which was thrown about 100 feet, authorities said. Martin was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

In March, Ian Cramer pleaded not guilty to charges of theft, criminal damage and reckless endangerment in connection with the incidents at the hospital. A jury trial is scheduled for November.

Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican, said his son “suffers from severe mental disorders, which manifest themselves in severe paranoia and hallucinations.” Ian Cramer is being held in the McLean County Jail in Washburn on $500,000 bail.