Harlow Cuadra (upper left and far right), who was convicted last week for the 2007 murder of gay porn producer Bryan Kocis (lower left), was sentenced on Monday to life in prison without parole.
The jury of eight men and four women decided on the sentence unanimously, according to The Citizen's Voice. Jurors deliberated over arson and robbery charges, additional factors that could have heightened his sentencing.
Prosecutors made it known that they were pursuing the death penalty for Cuadra. His former lover and coconspirator Joseph Kerekes (upper center) is currently serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to participating in the killing of Cobra Video owner Bryan Kocis in his Dallas Township, Pa., home in January 2007.
Kocis was stabbed 28 times before his house was set on fire, burning his body beyond recognition, according to his father's testimony.
In the closing days of the trial last week, tension filled the courtroom as Kerekes took the stand but refused to testify on Cuadra's behalf, leaving quickly, not looking at Cuadra.
Cuadra said in court that he met Kerekes online while he was still enlisted in the Navy. They later met in person in a mall in Norfolk, Va. Cuadra was discharged in 2002, and he said that Kerekes introduced him to prostitution as an occupation and eventually to producing pornography.
Prosecutors said that Cuadra killed rival producer Kocis to cut competition. Cuadra and Kerekes wanted to make a "million-dollar" film with porn star Brent Corrigan (lower center). Corrigan had performed in a number of titles for Cobra Video before he turned 18 and, until early last year, was entangled in a litigious feud with Cobra over the use of his stage name.
