Kerekes Pleads Guilty
A suspect in the slaying of a gay porn producer says he will not turn against his accomplice. Joseph Kerekes admitted today to his involvement in the brutal murder two years ago. By pleading guilty to second degree murder, Kerekes avoids the death penalty but is sentenced to life in prison. He did not get any other deal from the DA’s office for testifying against his partner, Harlow Caudra
He adamantly told the press he will not take the stand. Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. sentenced Kerekes, 34, to the mandatory life sentence plus a combined 56 to 112 months in state prison, and 24 months probation to be served consecutively to the life sentence.
“I will not testify for the state against Harlow." Those are Joseph Kerekes last words before being hauled away to begin serving a life sentence. On Monday, Kerekes pleaded guilty to second degree murder for his role in the death of Bryan Kocis, owner of Cobra video.
Kerekes told the court he and his partner Harlow Cuadra drove from Virginia Beach to kill Kocis in January 2007. He claimed Cuadra slashed Kocis' throat, stabbed him 28 times, robbed the Dallas Township house and set it on fire. Investigators claim Cuadra and Kerekes wanted to erase their main rival in the porn industry and cash in by using one of his former lead porn stars, Brent Corrigan.
Attorneys were ordered not to talk Monday, but last year prosecutors described the crime. Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Tom Doherty said in July 2007, "this was well organized, planned, willful and they knew what they were doing every step of the way."
Kerekes didn't admit to actually using the knife or torching the house, but said he knew what Cuadra had planned. According to police, Cuadra used an alias to plan a business meeting with Kocis the night he was killed. Kerekes says they did surveillance of the house the night before and bought a gun, knife and lighter fluid.
By pleading guilty Kerekes avoids the death penalty. He did not strike a deal with prosecutors for testimony against Cuadra who is expected to face trial next month.
Kocis' father did speak in court before Kerekes was sentenced. He said he will never forget or forgive him for what he did. To that Kerekes said “I'm sorry.”
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I would think that Harlow will now reconsider any plea offer that may have been previously offered in light of Joe’s plea today. This would ensure him of a life sentence; get him on to prison and out of the lockdown of the county jail lifestyle. In prison he can begin to live a life of sorts.
If Harlow doesn’t take such a deal a trial will be conducted and then the state will call Joe as a witness and he will have to testify as he will no longer have a 5th amendment claim. If he refuses to testify he will be in contempt and if he provides false testimony he will be subjected to perjury.
His statement that he will not testify against Harlow is Joe speaking and certainly not an order of the court. I’m thinking he said this in attempts to divert any attention that he was “selling” Harlow out. The statement will probably be to his benefit in dealing with fellow inmates who may harass or harm him for being a state witness. I would also imagine he feels terrible for Harlow and ashamed … but what can he do? It’s truly every man for himself in this mess he finds himself in.
It would be interesting to see Joe’s written plea agreement and should be a matter of record. I suspect the blog here will post such if and when it becomes available.
It would be my opinion that we shall see Harlow’s change of plea anytime soon. While I find it difficult to believe a jury would return a death penalty sentence in light of his age and background it would be needless to “crank” a jury, sit through a trial attempting to claim innocence and put his boyfriend through the shame and humiliation of testifying against him.
Short of an insanity defense it just doesn’t seem Harlow has much advantage in holding out.
Matthew Harlow has made it clear he is going to trial, he rejected the plea deal Sunday night, I seriously doubt he will reconsider. Look at it from his point of view. What would you rather have the Death Penalty or Life with out parole? He wanted a deal that allowed the possibility of parole.
That will not happen.
I fully expect the trial to commence in January.
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