The Times Leader reports that a Luzerne County judge signed court papers Tuesday ordering Joseph Kerekes to pay $200 for mitigation services provided by a Brooklyn, N.Y., firm.
Kerekes, 34, was sentenced on Dec. 8 to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of Bryan Kocis, 44, in January 2007.
Kocis was found dead inside his burning home on Midland Road, Dallas Township. An autopsy determined Kocis was stabbed more than 30 times, arrest records indicated.
Investigators alleged Kerekes and Harlow Cuadra, 27, both of Virginia Beach, Va., killed Kocis, whom they considered a rival in the gay pornographic movie industry.
Cuadra is awaiting a Feb. 17 trial on homicide charges.
Kerekes’ attorney, John Pike, asked that $200 be paid to Lang & Kaboski, Forensic Social Work Services, LLP, which provided mitigation services to Kerekes in November and December.
Court papers say the firm performed work that included phone calls to Kerekes’ family members and attorneys, as well as reviewing file and prison records.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Peter Paul Olszewski signed the order allowing payment.
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Note from PC: Just wanted to correct a few details in this Times Leader report... Kerekes is 35, and Bryan Kocis was stabbed 28 times.
Kerekes, 34, was sentenced on Dec. 8 to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the killing of Bryan Kocis, 44, in January 2007.
Kocis was found dead inside his burning home on Midland Road, Dallas Township. An autopsy determined Kocis was stabbed more than 30 times, arrest records indicated.
Investigators alleged Kerekes and Harlow Cuadra, 27, both of Virginia Beach, Va., killed Kocis, whom they considered a rival in the gay pornographic movie industry.
Cuadra is awaiting a Feb. 17 trial on homicide charges.
Kerekes’ attorney, John Pike, asked that $200 be paid to Lang & Kaboski, Forensic Social Work Services, LLP, which provided mitigation services to Kerekes in November and December.
Court papers say the firm performed work that included phone calls to Kerekes’ family members and attorneys, as well as reviewing file and prison records.
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Peter Paul Olszewski signed the order allowing payment.
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Note from PC: Just wanted to correct a few details in this Times Leader report... Kerekes is 35, and Bryan Kocis was stabbed 28 times.
