A 29-year-old woman who testified for the state that Benavides forced her to have anal sex and recorded the encounters sat with her hands over her face and cried as the jury heard her plead for Benavides to stop. It was a case that rattled San Antonio. Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved. When I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. Mark Benavides looks back at his wife and parents Friday as he is escorted out of the courtroom after being sentenced to 80 years for continuous trafficking of persons. He said he made amends to his family, and what does his wife tell you? A witness described the crime scene as a "horror move" in testimony. Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. She was later excused and replaced with an alternate. Prosecutor Meredith Chacon said although the state wanted for the judge to stack the sentences and have them run one right after the other, they decided to withdraw that motion at this time. Julie Mott trail: A jury awarded Sharlotte and Timothy Mott $8 million on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018 after they found Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries negligent in the loss of their daughters body. Their testimony established a pattern Benavides would pick them up from their homes or from jail, then take them to a hotel or a meeting room behind the courtroom to have sex. He said he would help me get my son back.. Due to the large amounts of publicity surrounding the case, the trial was moved from Bexar County to Wilson County. Your email address will not be published. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Hearst Communications Inc. I thought I was alone victims of disgraced San Antonio lawyer Mark Henry Benavides get a second chance, (Josie Norris /Staff Photographer | Express-News), Photo: Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News, (Josie Norris, The San Antonio Express-News / Staff Photographer | Express-News), Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex, Four pending sex cases against convicted ex-San Antonio attorney dismissed, Jury being picked to hear S.A. ex-lawyers sex case. Sometimes he would ask me my name, how old I was, and ask, What are you going to do? She would reply, I'm going to (expletive) my lawyer.. Women who employed him as their lawyer in prostitution cases told police that Benavides coerced them into having sex to help lessen their legal problems or to get their cases dismissed, an arrest warrant affidavit filed before the original indictments states. 1.1 Mark R. Benavides lawyer profile in Plano, Texas - Law.net; 1.2 Wife of Mark Benavides testifies - Twitter; 1.3 'I thought I was alone' victims of disgraced - Alton Telegraph; 1.4 Prosecutors: "Pornographic" DVDs show former lawyer with 1.5 Lawyer cries as he is sentenced to 80 years - Express Digest Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial, Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner, Couple get $8 million for loss of daughters body from San Antonio funeral home, 'A classic sociopath: Abused victims of Stone Oak playboy speak out after years of violence, Death penalty testimony paints violent portrait of officers killer, Man accused in death of trans woman wont face trial, Urestis wife files for divorce following salacious trial, New Braunfels man with history of 'deviant' sex acts with vegetables sentenced to life in prison, S.A. company responds after woman finds 'teeth' in barbacoa, Texas-based Corner Bakery Cafe files for bankruptcy, We tried the chicken fried steak that (briefly) shut down Mr. Juicy, Luna Rosa opens in former Rosario's Southtown location, San Antonio congressman Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, Buc-ee's plans global domination with a proposed Wisconsin store, San Antonio's massive pirate-themed park delays opening date, DPS sent at least 3,000 drivers licenses to organized crime group targeting Asian Texans. SAN ANTONIO Officials from the Bexar County District Attorneys Office and the Bexar County Public Defenders Office are urging potential sex crime victims of a disbarred San Antonio lawyer to come forward. Mark A. Cantu, III v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline . When Norton asked her if her husband committed a crime, Benavides said she was not allowed to hear the testimony, so I am not aware of what has happened, except what I heard on the news.. Benavideswill get credit for the days he has already served. "Theres others out there, I know. Benavides was indicted earlier this month for continuous trafficking of women between 2012 and 2015. Under questioning by defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. Dahlberg and Young want more of Benavides victims to come forward to have their cases reviewed. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Calling him a master manipulator and liar, prosecutors had asked the jury to send Benavides to life in prison for having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. Reyes survived for two weeks before being pronounced dead. The evidence against Benavides included portions of 246 videos the lawyer recorded of himself having sex with his clients. Linda Benavides, who is the wife of Mark Benavides, receives his belt and necktie Friday from a sheriffs deputy after he was sentenced to 80 years as punishment after being convicted for continuous trafficking of persons. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Defense expert Mark Steege, a sex therapist who testified he has treated hundreds of sex offenders in 35 years, said he evaluated Benavides in April 2017. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. Under cross examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. Charges against ten of eleven people arrested for animal cruelty in March, involving what one official described as some sort of unknown ritual involving dismembered goats and chickens, were later dropped. A now 51-year-old woman was arrested in 2013 on a DWI charge and hired Mark Benavides as her attorney. The case is being heard at the Wilson County under a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. Many of the acts were recorded, and now, upon further review of the case, prosecutors said they found more victims in need of justice. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. A recent review off the case showed the arrest wasn't supported by evidence and her conviction has been overturned based on Benavides' ineffectual counsel. He is accused of having sex with his clients in exchange for legal services. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. He said he knew police and judges and I didnt know who to try to ask for help, she said. W&P Porter bowl review: A container that makes office 10 beach essentials to pack for a spring break vacation, HOKA dropped a brand new version of their most popular shoe, You can still overpack the smaller Monos check-in suitcase. Another victim, now 51, was arrested in 2013 for DWI. The trial started last week and included testimony from all six accusers. Benavides' wife, Linda, took the stand on Friday and asked the jury to "please be fair." She said she knew Benavides cheated, but said the couple have two children and she still supported. The former attorney faces two charges of sexual assault of a child, one charge of sexual assault and another charge of continuous trafficking of persons, according to court records. 07:32 GMT 08 Apr 2018. View the profiles of professionals named "Mark Benavides" on LinkedIn. District Judge Dick Alcala noticed that the jurors were looking distraught so he ordered a break. Benavidesapologized Thursday and asked for forgiveness as he testified. More: Man accused in death of trans woman wont face trial. Julie Mott trail: A jury awarded Sharlotte and Timothy Mott $8 million on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018 after they found Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries negligent in the loss of their daughters body. Someof the graphic and sexually explicit videos were played for jurors. Mark Benavides (from left) listens as defense attorneysLiza Rodriguez and Monica E. Guerrero confer during the prosecution phanse of his trial in the Wilson County District Court and Justice Center in Floresville on Thursday, April 5, 2018. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. By Its worth life, ladies and gentlemen, Chacon said in her closing argument. She said Benavides flirted with her and offered to help her incarcerated son. Mark married Olivia Perez on month day 2001, at age 30 at marriage place, Texas. He is now treatable.. He did. More: San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged relativedies two weeks after shooting. According to court documents, the district attorney's office cited insufficient evidence in dropping the charges. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Former attorney Mark Benavides was in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing. As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. Under questioning by Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. Cop killer trial: Shaun Puente was found guilty on March 21, 2018 for fatally shooting San Antonio Police Department Officer Robert Deckard during a highway chase in Atascosa County on Dec. 8, 2013 that started after Puente, according to witnesses, committed two armed robberies in San Antonio. The woman in the video later explained to the court that she felt she had to sleep with her lawyer because 'he said he would help me get my son back.'. More: Jury deadlocks in murder case involving San Antonio man whose remains were grilled. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. }] Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. Under cross-examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. The next day, employees discovered her body missing from a damaged casket. Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. Mark Benavides leaves the courtroom as his trial recesses for lunch in the Wilson County District Court and Justice Center in Floresville on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking in persons and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. He did. The women state they employed Benavides as their lawyer for their prostitution cases but that he would coerce them into having sex in exchange for their legal problems being lessened, including dismissal of their cases. Just this month, Benavides was indicted again for continuous trafficking of persons in connection with alleged incidents with four of the women from 2012 to 2015. Dismemberment trial: The murder trial of Gabriel Moreno, accused of killing Jose Luis Menchaca, began on Feb. 26, 2018. The women said the alleged encounters took place at his law office, motels, his car and the courthouse, according to the affidavit. The case was tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. Its a very important function and a priority in our office, said District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. Mark Henry Benavides will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. He still faces a possible charge for aggravated assault with severe bodily injury. He was in the wrong no matter what people did.. He took me to a small room down a back hallway, and at that point he told me if I didnt perform a sexual act on him right then and there, he would not only kill my case, but try to worsen my case, she said, her voice trembling, even 12 years later. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. Fridays ruling came amid a highly publicized trial that had to be moved to Floresville at the request of Benavides attorneys, who claimed that the case received too much publicity in San Antonio for him to get a fair trial. Anyone who feels they were forced to take a plea deal by Benavides is urged to contact the Bexar County Public Defenders Office at 210-504-6216. Mark Benavides, a powerful Democrat who ran for the 186th District Court in 2014 during the Obama administration, was accused by federal law enforcement of trading his legal services as an attorney for sex with . Mark Henry Benavides was immediately taken into custody Tuesday night in Floresville, where the trial was heard. The woman pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana. She was encouraged to answer: 'I'm going to [expletive] my lawyer.' He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. According to a criminal complaint, authorities alleged Mark Benavides pressured his victims everywhere from courtroom conference rooms to his office and hotels between 2009 and 2015. San Antonio teen beating: A San Antonio 16-year-old who refused an arranged marriage endured six months of beatings at the hands of her parents before running away from her San Antonio home, according to court documents. Please be fair. Uresti was found guilty of defrauding investors in the now-defunct company FourWinds Logistics, which bought and sold sand used in fracking for oil production before it collapsed in 2015. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege said. Benavides was arrested in November 2015 while he was running for Bexar County District judge, and was indicted in April 2016. Linda Benavides (front), who is the wife of Mark Benavides, and his mother, Olga Benavides, are emotional after he was given 80 years after being convicted for continuous trafficking of persons on Friday. More: S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? Investigators seized 246 mini DVDs that contained hundreds of videos of Benavides and the former clients engaged in various sex acts, in which he could be heard directing the women and telling them what to do and say. She agreed to tell her story on the condition that she not be . What I saw yesterday (Benavides testimony), was a totally different man. Earlier, his wife told the jury deciding his punishment to be fair because he does not deserve this.. Since then, the Conviction Integrity Unit reviewed evidence in the case and identified more than 50 women he represented and whose cases may have been tainted. More: Couple get $8 million for loss of daughters body from San Antonio funeral home. Benavides admitted that he had sex with all of the women named in the indictment and recorded their motel sexual sessions. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Benavides was convicted in 2018 for six counts of human trafficking for trading sex for legal services. Mark Benavides Mechanical Engineer at Consulting Engineering Services San Antonio, Texas, United States 233 followers 232 connections Join to connect Consulting Engineering Services (CES) Texas. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. Mark Henry Benavides was immediately taken into custody Tuesday night in Floresville, where the trial was heard. More: San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged relativedies two weeks after shooting. Benavides will have to serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. In her closing argument, defense attorney Liza Rodriguez said Benavides is not the person jurors saw only in the snippets of video the state put together for them to watch. Benavides gave her his card. Both said Benavides actions cast a cloud over the entire legal profession in Bexar County. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); For requests, complaints, suggestions or queries, contact us via E-mail below, Diane McIver Wikipedia Biography Family, Wedding, Age, Funeral, Dolores Avery Age, Death Dead or Alive 2023 Wikipedia, Young, Bio, RachelJeffs Husband, Net worth, Age, Children Kids Wiki Biography , Eddie Ray Routh Now 2023, Wikipedia, Die, Mother, Death, Age, PTSD, Dalia Dippolito Age, Wiki, Husband, Teeth, Family Son, Mom, Bio Now, Teresa Halbach Wiki, Family Tree, Brother, Bio Steven Avery Case , Elizabeth Yardley Wiki, Age, Birthday, Married, Family (Personal Life) Bio, Tex McIver Age, Wife Wikipedia Bio Appeal Updates, Ranch. Detectives recovered 246 mini DVDs containing hundreds of videos in which he was seen directing the women during often violent sex. Benavides admission of the DVDs' existencewas recorded at police headquarters in November 2015, when detectives interviewed him. Man cleared in River Walk death: A judge issued a ruling Thursday, March 8, 2018, that prevented a manslaughter trial of Mark Daniel Lewis (left), accused of causing transgender woman Kenne McFadden to drown along the River Walk last year. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing trafficking of persons. Double murder-suicide:Hailey Reyes and her father (left) were gunned down by her estranged uncle, Elijah Jared Stone, on May 12 in an incident police called a "double murder-suicide." He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. Copyright 2018 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Officials said the women were. Mark Henry Benavides, 48, broke down in tears on Friday as he heard the sentence and mouthed 'I love you' to his wife, who is still staying with him A former San Antonio attorney has been. The juror was replaced by an alternate. He cheated. Benavides is facing a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison on each count. 'To me, it's cheating,' Benavides replied. Mark Henry Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons for having sex with clients he represented on prostitution or drug cases. Read more of her stories here. He was in the wrong no matter what people did, said a 32-year-old woman who was one of Benavides' victims. }] Steege said he saw a dramatic change in Benavides, from arrogant and entitled when they first met, to humble and treatable. More: Urestis wife files for divorce following salacious trial. Dismemberment trial: The murder trial of Gabriel Moreno, accused of killing Jose Luis Menchaca, began on Feb. 26, 2018. 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