COMPTON : Sisters Plead No Contest in Attack on Grandfather

Twin sisters originally charged with attempted murder pleaded no contest Monday to assault with a deadly weapon for trying to shoot their grandfather.

Prosecutors agreed to the plea bargain, under which Marla and Ramona Hidalgo could be sentenced to up to 24 months in prison, because their grandfather, Raymond Hernandez, refused to cooperate. Deputy Dist. Atty. Barbara Block said the 73-year-old man was “very adamant” about not testifying against his granddaughters.

The sisters had been charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy and residential burglary in the Feb. 15 attack. They entered their pleas in Compton Municipal Court before their preliminary hearing was scheduled to begin.

Hernandez told sheriff’s deputies that Marla Hidalgo pointed a semiautomatic pistol at him, while Ramona tried to hold him down. Ramona Hidalgo struggled with Hernandez, who got a knife and cut her. Marla Hidalgo pulled the trigger, but the gun misfired. Hernandez claimed that she tried to reload the pistol, but it would not fire, and the women fled.

Block said that she “felt pleased with the agreement in light of the problems.”