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Hazleton City Council, mayor discuss possible shortfall in funds before year’s end

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HAZLETON &#8212; A judge found probable cause for a city man to stand trial on charges that include attempted rape of a 13-year-old girl.Juan Carlos Morel-Acosta appeared before District Judge Joe Zola Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.Morel-Acosta has been charged with five felonies, including attempted rape by forcible compulsion, threat of rape by forcible compulsion, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault and attempt of sexual assault on a minor. He was also charged with four counts each of threat of indecent assault by forcible corruption, assault, recklessly endangering another person and corruption of minors.According to the police report, during the forensic interview, the 14-year-old female told the investigator she felt &#8220;dirty and badly&#8221; and she didn&#8217;t tell her parents &#8220;because she was afraid to.&#8221;Detective Cpl. David Rodick, of the Hazleton Police Department, testified at the preliminary hearing and detailed his investigation as well as the Child Advocacy Center case.&#8220;He (Morel-Acosta) only stopped (the rape) when his younger child came in (the room),&#8221; Rodick said.During Rodick&#8217;s testimony, he said the victim and her father lived with Morel-Acosta and a female cousin on Grant Street, where the crimes occurred.In the police report, the defendant admitted he had access to the victim and the victim would see him with the gun but never threatened her with it, the report states.Morel-Ascosta is to appear in county court at 8 a.m. July 8. He remains in Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 bail.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Melanie Mizenkommizenko@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko</shirttailMeta></div>

Charges against alleged Hazleton rapist forwarded to county court