(NewsDakota.com) – 22-year-old Garret Kuntz of Mandan accused of striking and killing a pedestrian with his vehicle along Interstate 94 west of Valley City on December 21st, 2025 has been sentenced after he changed his plea to guilty during a hearing on Thursday, August 27th in the Barnes County Courthouse.
The investigation, headed by the North Dakota Highway Patrol, identified Kuntz as the driver of a pickup that struck and killed 27-year-old Jerson Mejia of Honduras on December 21st, 2025 due to distracted driving. An anonymous tip led to Kuntz as the driver. The patrol asked for the public’s assistance in finding a vehicle with damage to the front bumper and passenger-side front fender. The patrol also found a piece of damaged bug shield in the ditch near Mejia’s body. It was determined that that debris belonged to Kuntz’s pickup.
According to the plea agreement, the count of Negligent Homicide was dropped and Kuntz pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter involving death or personal injury. Under North Dakota law the maximum sentence is 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine or both.
Kuntz received a 10 year suspended sentence with credit for one day served in jail. Judge James Hovey also issued an order of supervised probation for three years followed by 1,000 hours of community service. Restitution was set at $7,856 dollars.
As a convicted felon, Kuntz may not be in possession of a firearm, surveillance equipment, consume alcohol, and not enter an establishment that serves alcohol.
Judge Hovey said this is a fairly light sentence, but distracted driving must stop. He ordered Kuntz to speak about the dangers of distracted driving to High School Juniors and Seniors as part of his community service order.
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