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Happy birthday Gabriella Elyse Yozviak!

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Happy birthday Aria Rose Lispi!

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Hazleton woman accused of threatening potential witnesses in her brother&#8217;s homicide case pleaded guilty Friday to a criminal attempt of hindering prosecution.</p><p>Hilda Mora-Polanco, 26, of Alter Street, was charged in June 2015 after she allegedly told one witness a shotgun waited for anyone who testified against Rafael Mora-Polanco, whom a Luzerne County jury <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/632171/jury-begins-deliberations-in-case-of-hazleton-man-on-trial-for-brutal-2015-killing" target="_blank">convicted last week of first-degree murder</a>.</p><p>Two felony counts of witness intimidation were dropped <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/626440/hazleton-homicide-suspects-sister-to-enter-guilty-plea-in-witness-intimidation-case" target="_blank">in exchange for Hilda Mora-Polanco&#8217;s plea</a>, which Judge Michael T. Vough accepted during a brief hearing in Luzerne County Court. Vough set sentencing for March 17.</p><p>The charge, a misdemeanor of the second degree, calls for a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $5,000 fine, Assistant District Attorney Dan Zola said.</p><p>During Vough&#8217;s reading of the plea colloquy, Hilda Mora-Polanco appeared to smirk, drawing the judge&#8217;s ire.</p><p>&#8220;Is this funny to you?&#8221; the judge asked.</p><p>&#8220;No, it&#8217;s not,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Hilda Mora-Polanco had been held without bail since her arrest on June 22, 2015, though Friday&#8217;s plea agreement calls for her to be released from custody pending sentencing. She must also follow the terms of the plea agreement, which calls for her to refrain from contact with her co-defendants and any witnesses from her brother&#8217;s homicide case.</p><p>Rafael Mora-Polanco, 28, of Hazleton, was sentenced to life in prison for the execution-style shooting of 35-year-old Jorge Marrero. Mora-Polanco shot Marrero a total of six times on June 11, 2015, in Hazleton, including four shots to the head after Marrero collapsed on West 4th Street following a foot chase from an Alter Street apartment, the jury found.</p><p>During the course of the investigation, police filed witness intimidation charges against Hilda Mora-Polanco, her brother, Denny Mora, and another family member, Ramon Cruz-Maldonado, for allegedly threatening potential witnesses with violence. Both are awaiting trial.</p><p>Hilda Mora-Polanco did not comment as she was led out of the courthouse.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Hilda Mora-Polanco </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_web1_Hilda_mora_polanco-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Hilda Mora-Polanco </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Convicted killer’s sister admits to threatening witness in Hazleton homicide case