SUNBURY — A defense attorney for a city man accused of attempted homicide is trying to taint the jury pool by alleging the victim is an illegal immigrant, a Northumberland County prosecutor said Wednesday.

During a brief court hearing, defense attorney Richard Feudale, of Mount Carmel, said he believes Mario Solorio, 40, of 1024½ Reagan St., Sunbury, may have motivation to lie about the circumstances surrounding his stabbing because he’s in the country illegally.

Feudale said he was informed by his client, Manuel Molina, 25, of Sunbury, that Solorio is an illegal immigrant who has worked as part of a cleaning crew at a factory near Selinsgrove and has used aliases.

Molina is a native of Puerto Rico.

Solorio told police Molina stabbed him Jan. 2 while trying to steal money he had saved to buy a car. Molina allegedly told police he stabbed Solorio because he had threatened him about witnessing drug transactions.

Objecting to the specificity of the accusations, assistant district attorney John Muncer lashed out at Feudale for making “unfounded, unproven allegations” in open court.

He said Feudale’s comments about Solorio’s alleged immigration status was an attempt to “stir up headlines” and taint the jury pool.

Addressing the defense attorney, President Judge Robert B. Sacavage said, “You wouldn’t be doing that, would you, Mr. Feudale? If I had a hint of that, I’d issue the appropriate sanctions.”

Muncer responded that he doesn’t see any relevancy between Solorio’s immigration status and the stabbing.

While saying he had no information that Solorio is living in the country illegally, Muncer said he will confirm Solorio’s immigration status.

Molina is free on $50,000 bail pending a trial on attempted homicide and other charges.

According to city police, Molina was trying to rob Solorio at his home at gunpoint and stabbed him twice with an 8-inch-long kitchen knife during an argument.