NSManagedObject *newConnection = [[NSManagedObject alloc] init];
if(_connection != nil) {
    NSFetchRequest *request = [[NSFetchRequest alloc] init];
    NSEntityDescription *entityDesc = [NSEntityDescription entityForName:@"Connection" inManagedObjectContext:context];

    [request setEntity:entityDesc];
    NSPredicate *pred = [NSPredicate predicateWithFormat:@"SELF == %@",  _connection.connectionID];
    [request setPredicate:pred];
    NSError *error;
    NSArray *objects = [context executeFetchRequest:request error:&error];
    if([objects count] > 0) {
         newConnection = objects[0];
    }
}
else {
    newConnection = [NSEntityDescription insertNewObjectForEntityForName:@"Connection" inManagedObjectContext:context];
}

NSArray *objects = [context executeFetchRequest:request error:&error];
if([objects count]>0) {
    newConnection = objects[0];
}