Alexander Swarm

A Berthold man who was the driver in a fatal November car crash has been sentenced after entering a change of plea to guilty to a charge of vehicular homicide in North Central District Court on Tuesday.

Alexander James Swarm, 29, Berthold, entered his change of plea to guilty for one count of criminal vehicular homicide-felony involving a motor vehicle, a Class A felony, following a Nov. 18, 2023, crash.

According to court documents, the officer dispatched to the scene arrived to find a passenger trapped in the vehicle and Swarm outside the vehicle. Swarm admitted to the officer that he had been drinking and driving, and did not know how much he had to drink nor how fast the vehicle was traveling. The vehicle was traveling south on Tyler Street in Berthold, lost control and struck a tree. Swarm was placed under arrest for DUI. Due to injuries sustained in the crash. Swarm was transported to the hospital for treatment. The passenger in the vehicle died in the crash.

Judge Richard Hagar sentenced Swarm to first serve three years of a 10-year confinement term, with three years supervised probation, a chemical dependency evaluation, victim impact panel and $1,025 fines/fees.