Life Sentence Upheld in Slaying of Gay Porn Studio Head

WILKES-BARRES, Pa. — A state Superior Court this month rejected Harlow Cuadra’s plea for relief and upheld his life sentence for the brutal slaying of Cobra Video producer Bryan Kocis in 2007.

Cuadra believed he deserved a new trial because his defense lawyers were ineffective and failed to present evidence that his partner was the actual killer.

A Luzerne County jury convicted Cuadra in 2009 with killing Kocis, inside Kocis’ Dallas Township, Pa., home he set ablaze in an attempt to cover up the murder.

Prosecutors alleged Cuadra and his partner, Joseph Kerekes, 41, planned to kill Kocis, their rival in the gay adult entertainment industry.

Cobra Video focused on the twink category in bareback and masturbatory scenes. Some of Cobra's titles include "Take It Like A Bitch Boy," "A Boy's Raw Urges" and "Bareback Twink Orgy."

Kocis' company catapulted in 2004 after he cast twink model Brent Corrigan in Cobra's "Every Poolboy's Dream." The video put Kocis' company on the gay porn map and Corrigan went on to become the most famous, and most lucrative, of his ool of actors.

But Kocis had legal problems that set back his company and personal life. He was sentenced in May 2002 to a year of probation for possessing a videotape that showed him having sex with a 15-year-old boy.

An autopsy conducted on the body of Kocis found that he was stabbed 28 times in his torso and body, and that his neck was slashed so severely, he was nearly decapitated.

Kerekes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison.

Cuadra sought relief for his conviction, saying his trial lawyers, Joseph D’Andrea and Paul Walker, were ineffective and failed to object to several questions by Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr.

Cuadra also claimed that his lawyers failed to introduce evidence that Kerekes was responsible for Kocis’ murder. He testified in his own defense that he was inside Kocis’ house modeling for a position with Cobra Video when Kerekes rushed in and killed Kocis.

The court, however, upheld his sentencing, which also was appealed in 2010 without any success.

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Justices Alito, Thomas Invoke Victorian-Era Morality Law, Raising Censorship Concerns

Several national publications reported this week on widespread concern among Free Speech advocates after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Scalia and Clarence Thomas repeatedly invoked during a hearing the infamous segregation-era law the Comstock Act, which was the cornerstone of U.S. censorship of sexual material from the 1870s until the 1970s.

TeamSkeet Releases 1st Installment of 'Ripe for the Taking'

TeamSkeet has released the first installment of its latest feature, "Ripe for the Taking," starring TeamSkeet March AllStar Scarlett Alexis.

Skinfluential Management's FansFuel Acquires Fanwire

FansFuel has acquired creator account management tool Fanwire.

Pineapple Support Appoints Kasey Kei as Brand Ambassador

Pineapple Support has appointed veteran performer and content creator Kasey Kei as its latest brand ambassador.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

Eva Maxim, Katrina Colt Headline 'Cumming to LA' From Cherry Kiss

Eva Maxim and Katrina Colt star with Vince Karter in 2021 XBIZ Europas Female Performer of the Year Cherry Kiss' "Cumming to L.A.," from Evil Angel.

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

Skylar Snow Headlines 'Infidelity 4' From Sweet Sinner

Skylar Snow toplines "Infidelity 4," the latest release from Mile High Media studio brand Sweet Sinner.

Serenity Cox Stars in 'Enjoy It' From MILFY

Serenity Cox stars with Alberto Blanco in "Enjoy It," from Vixen Media Group studio imprint MILFY.

Show More