N.Y. district attorney admits to porn star past

CORTLAND, N.Y. An upstate district attorney admitted on Friday that he had previously worked as a pornographic actor in the 1970s, despite previously repeatedly denying working in the adult film industry.

Mark Suben, the DA in Cortland County near Syracuse since 2008, held a news conference Friday to say he had lied about his past in the days before this year's election. He had recently been re-elected to a second term.

"Recently materials have been circulated alleging that I was involved in the adult film industry about 40 years ago in New York. Those allegations are true," he said. "I was an actor in adult films for a short period in the early 70s. I was also an actor in other venues including off Broadway, soap operas and commercial advertisements."

He apologized for his actions and said he used "bad judgment" by acting in porn and by lying about it. He wouldn't take questions, including whether he should resign. On his way out of the news conference, several people said "You lied to me, Mark."

Suben's spokeswoman, Aimee Milks, said Suben will not resign.

"A few weeks ago, when asked, I denied this to members of the press," Suben said. "I regret that and I apologize for it. I was shocked and embarrassed to be confronted with this so many years later. I was embarrassed for my family and friends who have stood by me. I also denied my actions to my family, my friends and my staff."

Earlier on Friday, CBS affiliate WTVH in Syracuse, N.Y. published a story that a YouTube video posted by user DistricAttorneypornstar3 tried to expose Suben as a porn star actor named Gus Thomas.

The IMDB online database says Suben and Thomas are linked and classified as alternate names. The name Gus Thomas appears in films such as "Lecher," and "The Love Witch." He also was featured in "Deep Throat Part II," the sequel to the groundbreaking 1970s pornographic film. Mark Suben appears in the credits for the non-pornographic 1976 movie "Angels."

As recently as last month, Suben had denied being a porn star saying "there's no truth" and the porn star was just a "look alike" to WTVH. He added that sites like IMDB could be changed to spread falsehoods.

"I have heard these rumors for years... There are people who don't like me," Suben told WTVH in October.

He refrained from commenting further on the matter after the press conference.

Suben has been an acting city court judge, city corporation counsel and a county attorney. He is past president of the Cortland County Bar Association. He graduated from the University of Rochester, the University of Wisconsin and Fordham Law School, according to the biography on his election website. The bio says he worked seven years as an assistant district attorney in Bronx County then moved to Syracuse. He has taught criminal trial practice as an adjunct professor for 17 years at Syracuse University Law School.