The adult son of North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer (R) was given a 28-year jail sentence on Monday for a high-speed chase that led to a crash that killed a sheriff's deputy last December.

Ian Cramer, 43, pleaded guilty in September to manslaughter, preventing arrest, reckless endangerment, homicide while fleeing a peace officer as well as drug- and driving-related offenses after he crashed into the car of Mercer County Sheriff’s Deputy Paul Martin, 53, which then struck Martin, killing him.

At the time, Martin was outside the vehicle setting up a tire deflation device.

Cramer was being chased by police after taking his parents' SUV in an attempt to avoid treatment for hallucinations.

How much time?

The judge in the case, State District Judge Bobbi Weiler, admitted that Cramer probably wouldn't serve most of his sentence, and also recommended addiction treatment.

“The (state) Department of Corrections has their own policy on how much time you’re going to serve,” Weiler explained, according to the Associated Press.

“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," Weiler pointed out.

"Many years"

Even so, Sen. Cramer seemed to think the sentence was too lengthy for his son.

“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,” the senator told reporters.

Cramer was remorseful about his actions and apologized to the family of Martin. He admitted to taking methamphetamines and bath salts on the day of the crash.

“I had no intention to do any of this. It was an accident, and I just hope that someday they can forgive me, and I think the best thing for me is to go to a hospital and just get more help,” he said.

Condolences

Sen. Cramer also offered condolences to Martin's family, calling him a "hero" who tried to help his son.

Cramer was recently re-elected to another term in the Senate.