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Progress made in Dallas teacher negotiations

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Awarded author Rivka Galchen to open Wilkes University’s Writers Series

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A second sibling of a Hazleton man sentenced to life in prison earlier this month for gunning down another man admitted Thursday he threatened to summon members of a violent street gang if witnesses took the stand against his brother.</p><p>Denny Mora, 32, of Hazleton, pleaded guilty in Luzerne County Court to a criminal attempt of hindering prosecution. Two counts of witness intimidation were withdrawn in exchange for Mora&#8217;s plea. Judge David W. Lupas accepted Mora&#8217;s plea and released him on $10,000 unsecured bail pending sentencing on April 7.</p><p>The plea comes less than a week after Mora&#8217;s sister, Hilda Mora-Polanco, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/633533/convicted-killers-sister-admits-to-threatening-witness-in-hazleton-homicide-case" target="_blank">pleaded guilty to the same charge</a>. Her sentencing in scheduled for March 17.</p><p>Prosecutors said the brother and sister, as well as another man, Ramon Cruz-Maldonado, threatened witnesses in Rafael Mora-Polanco&#8217;s homicide investigation with violence if they came forward. The siblings have been behind bars on the charges since June 2015.</p><p>Mora told one witness &#8220;if anyone testifies against (Rafael Mora-Polanco), the Crips are going to get them,&#8221; according to prosecutors. Hilda Mora-Polanco warned another witness a shotgun waited for anyone who took the stand against her brother, while Cruz-Maldonado allegedly showed the weapon to the witness moments later.</p><p>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 Rafael Mora-Polanco of first-degree murder</a> earlier this month.</p><p>Rafael Mora-Polanco, 28, shot Jorge Marrero, 35, six times during a pursuit through the streets of Hazleton on June 11, 2015, the jury found. The chase culminated with Marrero collapsing on West 4th Street and Rafael Mora-Polanco firing four shots into his head.</p><p>Multiple eyewitnesses to the shooting testified they were afraid to take the stand.</p><p>Rafael Mora-Polanco is serving life in prison.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Mora </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_web1_Mora059.jpg</photo0><caption0>Mora </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>

Sibling of Rafael Mora-Polanco admits to threatening witnesses