An appellant panel today rejected a former Bloomfield man's appeal claiming he received ineffective legal assistance in connection with crash that killed a 13-year-old pedestrian after speeding away from police in 2005.
Patrick Sterling claimed his attorney forced him to plead guilty to one charge where he was later sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2008.
The appellate panel today rejected Sterling's petition for post-conviction relief.
On Nov. 5, 2005, an Orange police captain tried to pull over Sterling after he was spotted speeding in a Honda Civic near South Center and Main streets in Orange.
After speeding away, Sterling lost control of the vehicle in East Orange, where he crashed into a pickup truck, killing the 13-year-old boy who was walking to meet with friends.