Ward County Sheriff Charged in Death of Inmate

Court documents filed in Ward County court against Sheriff Steven Kukowkski and Michael Nason allege Kukowski decided not to get the inmate medical care for three days in October 2014.

According to court documents, this happened in spite of the inmate being incoherent and urinating on himself while in custody.

Court documents allege Kukowski said it was a “dollars and cents” issue.

At the time, Kukowski had an inmate population 150 percent over the suggested population for a jail of its size.

The inmate died in the hospital shortly after he was exchanged with Burleigh County for another inmate.

Kukowski is charged with 3 misdemeanors including refusal of a public servant refusing to perform his duty and 2 counts of reckless endangerment.

Nason is also charged with reckless endangerment.