Retired NJ Cop’s Sentence Upheld in Deadly Crash

An eastern Pennsylvania judge has upheld the conviction and sentence of a retired New Jersey police officer in a crash that killed two members of a motorcycle club for recovering drug and alcohol addicts.

The (Easton) Express-Times says Northampton County Judge Paula Roscioli rejected 50-year-old John Heaney III's appeal in the July 2011 crash near Bangor that killed Keith Michaelson and Michael Zadoyko.

A jury convicted Heaney of involuntary manslaughter, drunken driving and other offenses.

Heaney, who refused a blood-alcohol test, said he passed out behind the wheel due to low blood sugar stemming from gastric bypass surgery.

The judge said in her ruling Tuesday that the evidence indicated that the former Lopatcong Township officer had been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)