Sentence Upheld For Man in 2004 Trooper Death

An Atlantic City man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of New Jersey state trooper has lost his bid to have his 30-year prison sentence set aside.

The trooper, Bertram Zimmerman III, was killed in February 2004 while responding to an armed robbery at a Dennis Township convenience store. The 32-year-old trooper died when his patrol car struck a utility pole.

Middleton Dunmore, who admitted robbing the store, eventually pleaded guilty in 2006. He received a 20-year term for that robbery and others he committed in Cape May County, and a 10-year term for the manslaughter charge.

Dunmore claimed he received ineffective legal representation at the time.

But Superior Court Judge Raymond Batten rejected those claims Wednesday during a hearing attended by Zimmerman's family and dozens of troopers.