BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA: North Dakota man Shannon Brandt, of Glenfield, has been sentenced to five years in prison for the tragic death of 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson in September 2022, following a small-town street dance.
The case initially gained attention when Brandt claimed that Ellingson, whom he fatally ran over, was a "Republican extremist" who had threatened him during a political argument.
Brandt pleaded guilty to manslaughter in May, and his claims about the incident being politically motivated were debunked by authorities, who found little evidence to support his assertions.
Case that sparked national attention and controversy
On Friday, September 8, a state district court judge handed down a five-year prison sentence to Brandt, with credit for nearly a year served. Additionally, he will face three years of supervised probation and a one-year suspension of his driver's license. The maximum penalty for the charge is ten years in prison, a $20,000 fine, or both.
"You didn’t intentionally run him over. I acknowledge that. I understand what the experts in this case are saying about how your mind work," the judge said.
"And you didn’t intentionally kill Cayler. But he did die. And that’s a result of your alcohol consumption. You recklessly pushed Cayler to the ground with your SUV, you recklessly ran him over, and you recklessly killed him," the judgment added.
Initially, Brandt had been charged with criminal vehicular homicide, but that charge was later dropped. Subsequently, he was charged with murder, but he ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Another charge, leaving the scene of the fatality, was dismissed as part of a plea deal.
The tragic incident occurred after Brandt had been drinking and engaged in a verbal argument with Ellingson.
He struck Ellingson with his SUV, causing severe injuries by driving over his torso and legs, according to prosecutor Kara Brinster. An autopsy confirmed that Ellingson was on the ground when he suffered the fatal injuries.
Brandt immediately called 911 after the incident, reporting that he had hit a man with his vehicle and requesting an ambulance.
However, he allegedly left the scene before law enforcement arrived. He was later apprehended at his home in Glenfield, where officers found him visibly intoxicated.
Relief and apology from Brandt's attorney
Mark Friese, Brandt's defense attorney, expressed relief on Brandt's behalf and highlighted the apology he extended to the Ellingson family.
Friese emphasized the difficulties faced by all parties involved, exacerbated by false information circulating in the media and the exploitation of the tragedy for political purposes.
Cayler's mother, Sheri Ellingson, implored the judge not to adhere to the plea agreement and instead impose the maximum 10-year sentence for manslaughter.
"Shannon, you took a piece of our family that’s not replaceable. When you chose to take Cayler’s life and happiness you took ours too. You have caused our family endless pain, heartache, sleepless nights. Our days, months, and years will never be the same because of your selfishness," Sheri Ellingson said.
"I’m here to take responsibility for the role I played in this tragedy. I’ve very sorry to the Ellingson family, my family, and anybody else that has been affected by my actions. I have always enjoyed seeing the Ellingsons and would never have intentionally caused harm to any of them. I am truly devastated by the impact this has had on the entire community," Brandt said.
Brandt's attorney, Mark Friese, told Fox News Digital, "Shannon is relieved that the matter is concluded and those affected by this tragedy can start to heal."
