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(KNOX) – A Walsh County man pleaded guilty Monday to killing a 6-year-old girl in a drunk driving crash near the Grand Forks International Airport, avoiding a trial that was set to begin this week.
According to court records Travis Bell, 43 of Fordville entered guilty pleas to criminal vehicular homicide and criminal vehicular injury in the June 2024 crash that killed Katarina Louthain and seriously injured her mother, Nicole.
Investigators say Bell had been drinking when he rear-ended Nicole Louthain’s SUV at a traffic light. The crash happened at Highway 2 and Airport Road. Nicole was driving home to Grand Forks Air Force Base.
Bell faces three to six years in prison on the homicide charge. He’ll serve up to five years on the injury charge. The sentences will run at the same time.
After prison, Bell will serve three years of supervised probation. He must also participate in the 24-7 sobriety program.
A Grand Forks County District Judge approved the plea deal. The judge called it “reasonable and legal” and said it falls within legal parameters.
Prosecutors said that they consulted with Nicole Louthain about the agreement. They said she was notified of the final offer and did not oppose it.
The plea comes two weeks after Nicole Louthain sought a new judge in the case. She had criticized the judge’s earlier decision to suppress breath test evidence. The North Dakota Supreme Court reversed that ruling.
The judge in the case will review a pre-sentence investigation, sentencing memoranda, and victim impact statements before deciding Bell’s exact prison term.
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