Cuadra Found Guilty of
Cobra Video Murder

Former escort/porn-producer Harlow Cuadra was found guilty of the first-degree murder of his porn industry rival Bryan Kocis by a jury in Luzerne County Thursday afternoon, according to the Wilkes Barre Times Leader newspaper. The jury of eight men and four women took less than four hours to reach a verdict.

Cuadra, 27, faces the death penalty for his crime, as prosecutors have indicated that they will pursue such a sentence.

Cuadra and former lover/business partner Joseph Kerekes allegedly killed Kocis to get access to porn star Brent Corrigan, who at the time was entangled in a litigious feud with Cobra Video and Kocis over the use of his stage name.

Cuadra testified Tuesday that he was a U.S. Navy medic when he met Kerekes in Norfolk, Va., where he was stationed. They started talking in an Internet chat room and then met in person in a local mall.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick asked the defendant why he was discharged suddenly in 2002, since the country was at war in Afghanistan and gearing up for another war in Iraq.

"I'm no coward, if that's what you're trying to do," Cuadra said. He said that Kerekes urged him to leave the military shortly after their relationship started. Kerekes also introduced him to prostitution as an occupation and eventually to producing pornography.

Kerekes, who is currently serving a life sentence for his involvement in the murder, refused to testify on behalf of Cuadra. He took the stand for about five minutes Tuesday before he was removed by Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr., according to the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader. Kerekes was to testify on Cuadra's behalf, but he told Cuadra's attorney Joseph D'Andrea that he did not want to speak.

Kerekes pleaded guilty in December to killing Kocis in his home with Cuadra. Kocis was stabbed 28 times before his house in Dallas Township, Pa., was set on fire, burning him beyond recognition, according to his father's testimony.

Cobra webmaster Alexander Fuente testified that Kocis received e-mails two days before his murder from someone who identified himself as Danny Moilin seeking to audition for a Cobra film. In the photos submitted, Moilin resembles Cuadra.

Last week prosecutors showed the jury one of many alleged photos sent to Kocis under the false name. Trooper Brian Murphy, a computer forensic investigator, said he was able to trace at least a dozen e-mails and photos between Moilin and Kocis in January 2007.