A Bismarck man has made his first court appearance on a manslaughter charge related to a wreck that killed another Bismarck man.

Jon Paul Eikanas, 21, was charged with the Class B felony Sept. 5. He made his first court appearance on the charge Tuesday at the Morton County Courthouse. South Central District Judge Bruce Romanick set bond for Eikanas at $25,000 cash or surety.

Eikanas was the driver of a 2001 Pontiac Grand Am on July 20 that crossed a road near New Salem, drove into a north ditch, struck a culvert, vaulted across an approach and landed facing east. Dustin James Kessel, a passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 21 years old.

Manslaughter is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000.

Morton County Assistant State's Attorney Jackson Lofgren said prosecutors are arguing that the offense carries a one-year minimum mandatory prison sentence upon conviction. The North Dakota Century Code mandates that such a minimum mandatory sentence applies if the driver of a vehicle was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of a wreck that caused the death of another person.

Eikanas also is slated to appear at a revocation of probation hearing in a different case on Oct. 28. He was on probation for gross sexual imposition at the time of the crash, and he was arrested on a petition for revocation of probation days after it.

Eikanas is in the custody at the Burleigh County Detention Center in lieu of posting a $25,000 cash bond set by South Central District Judge Donald Jorgensen.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@;bismarcktribune.com.)