The adult son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday for his involvement in a crash that claimed the life of a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy on Dec. 6.
Ian Cramer, 43, waived his preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty to several charges, including homicide while fleeing a peace officer, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, and fleeing an officer. He also faces misdemeanor drug charges, as well as driving under suspension and marijuana possession.
A jury trial is set for July, after Cramer's initial manslaughter charge was elevated to homicide.
During his court appearance, Cramer responded to procedural questions from state District Judge Bobbi Weiler before conferring briefly with his public defender outside the courtroom. He then left with sheriff’s deputies.
According to Bismarck police, Cramer’s mother took him to a hospital due to mental health concerns. Allegedly, he took control of his parents’ vehicle, crashing through a closed garage door at the hospital’s ambulance bay. Later, he fled from deputies when confronted in Hazen, approximately 70 miles from Bismarck.
