VALLEY CITY — A controversial plea deal is in the works for a deadly 2025 hit-and-run crash on Interstate 94.
In court on Monday, July 20, Garret Kuntz, 22, of Mandan, N.D., agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. But under the terms of the plea deal, he won't spend a day in jail.
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Kuntz is accused of hitting and killing 27-year-old Jerson Mejia of Honduras a few days before Christmas.
Mejia was walking along I-94 west of Valley City at about midnight. His body was found the afternoon of Dec. 21, about 25 feet off the road in a ditch. Kuntz was headed from his hometown of Mandan to a gathering in Valley City. Investigators said his cellphone records showed he was using Snapchat constantly during the 140-mile trip. But they said Kuntz did not use it after the crash. They said Kuntz lied numerous times but eventually confessed, according to court documents.
"The victim (Mejia's family) is not in agreement at all with our agreement, and the victim I will anticipate will ask the court to reject the agreement," said Tanya Duffy, Barnes County State's Attorney.
While he won't spend any time behind bars, Kuntz will be on supervised probation for three years. He will also have to perform 1,000 hours of community service over the three years. Duffy told Judge James Hovey on Monday, that she will explain at the next hearing why she offered the plea deal.
"This isn't a type of case I would typically recommend suspended time, but the general premise is accountability with requiring the defendant to give back for what he has taken," Duffy said.
The plea deal is considered binding, meaning if the judge rejects it, Kuntz would be allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and take the case to trial. The change of plea and sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. Mejia's family plans to attend.
Troopers say they encountered Mejia walking on the interstate that night, but he refused assistance.
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They say he was homeless, and it was common for him to walk back and forth between Valley City and Jamestown.