The man found guilty of a cold-case murder in Fond du Lac County lost his appeal.
Dennis Brantner argued his conviction for second-degree reckless homicide violates double jeopardy rules.
He entered an Alford plea in the 1990 death of 18-year-old Berit Beck. That means he doesn’t admit guilty, but he realizes a judge or jury could find him guilty, if he would stand trial.
The plea deal came after there was a hung jury in his trial on a charge of first-degree intentional homicide.
A state appeals court says double jeopardy doesn’t apply if a trial ends with a hung jury, even if there is insufficient evidence.
Brantner is serving a 10-year prison sentence for Beck’s murder.
