She had been a passenger in a car when police found marijuana during a traffic stop and no one claimed it. Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role. He transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. It was important for us to correct a wrong from someone in our bar.. Benavides is being tried in. }] the woman, 29, cried on the video. Shes pleased that the conviction is now off her record, thanks to the DAs and public defenders offices. One of the women, now 32, covered her eyes and stifled tears as she recounted her ordeal. Mark Benavides (center) confers with defense attornies Monica E. Guerrero (right) and Liza Rodriguez (left) during his trial in the Wilson County District Court and Justice Center in Floresville on Thursday. Prosecutors proved that Benavides made women he was representing for alleged crimes, including DUI, minor drug offenses and prostitution, to have sex with him in exchange for legal services. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege said. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts on the Express-News Crime Team. Meredith Chacon, also prosecuting, branded Benavides 'a pimp in a suit' during her closing arguments. Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex - San Antonio Express-News. Mark Benavides (left) sits beside defense attorney Liza Rodriguez during his trial in the Wilson County District Court and Justice Center in Floresville on Thursday. 'To me, it's cheating,' Benavides replied. Public Defender Michael Young is working with the Bexar County District Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity Unit to review hundreds of Benavides cases with an eye toward overturning unfair convictions. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. She had never been in trouble before and had no drugs on her person, but that arrest triggered a terrifying string of events that still affects her today. Steege said he had not. 'It's an understatement to call it cheating if it's a criminal act,' Norton said. Under questioning by Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. Mark Benavides, 48, is charged with continuous trafficking of persons, accused of having sex with clients in prostitution cases in exchange for legal services. And he did.. The trial started last week and included testimony from all six accusers. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. As the jurors were exiting the courtroom, one juror fainted. Another victim, now 51, was arrested in 2013 for DWI. Mark married Olivia Perez on month day 2001, at age 30 at marriage place, Texas. District Judge Dick Alcala noticed that the jurors were looking distraught so he ordered a break. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. Officials said the women were extorted by Benavides to take plea deals for crimes they didnt commit. 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.'. A former San Antonio attorney has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for forcing his clients to have sex with him in return for legal services. So, I did.. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. It took the panel nearly four hours to find Benavides, 48, guilty on all six. You can see RJ regularly on KSAT Explains and Good Morning San Antonio. Please be fair. The 48-year-old former attorney is accused of continuous human trafficking and having sex with clients in prostitution cases in return for legal services. Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. A now 51-year-old woman was arrested in 2013 on a DWI charge and hired Mark Benavides as her attorney. More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. But he's a good person. Benavides was first arrested in November 2015, charged with compelling prostitution from at least nine female clients. Former attorney Mark Benavides was in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. This is human trafficking, Chacon said. Benavides was convicted. Benavides has applied for probation. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. She said they would go to a motel in San Antonio, where he told her what to do sexually while recording the encounter. Lawyers are supposed to help you, not hurt you. A 32-year-old woman victimized by a local attorney recalls her ordeal from her early 20s. Read more of her stories here. The defense has already filed an appeal. 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. A witness described the crime scene as a "horror move" in testimony. This is human trafficking, Chacon said. More: Urestis wife files for divorce following salacious trial. After the judge ruled the evidence was insufficient, the victims mother collapsed in the courtroom. The jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. He paid more attention; we spent a lot more time with the kids, she told the court. She said she rejected his overtures. }] I felt young and dumb and powerless. 07:32 GMT 08 Apr 2018. Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into . Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison. He did. The latest indictment is the fifth open case against Benavides. S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? During the trial, some of the graphic and sexually explicit encounters were played for the jury. Many of the acts were recorded, and now, upon further review of the case, prosecutors said they found more victims in need of justice. Benavides took the stand Thursday during the punishment phase of the trial. Both sides rested their cases and are expected to begin closing arguments this afternoon. Someof the graphic and sexually explicit videos were played for jurors. 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. At first, I thought he was playing around, recalled the woman, now 51. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. Its the reason she agreed to speak out about what happened, despite her continuing fear of Benavides. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. Benavides was convicted of having sex with female clients in exchange for his legal services. Mark Steege, a sex therapist, testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of Mark Benavides in Floresville. she testified. When she pushed back, he was true to his word. Your email address will not be published. Before Benavides was taken away, the judge increased his bail to $150,000 on each of the remaining four cases pending against him. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. At first, Benavides would text or call her when he was lonely or bored, she said. The woman pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana. Both said Benavides actions cast a cloud over the entire legal profession in Bexar County. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt. The woman said a friend referred her to Benavides in 2008 for legal representation. Benavides will serve 80 years for each count but the time will. It dragged on for nearly four years. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. 14:01 GMT 07 Apr 2018 Benavides attorneys declined to comment on the verdict or sentencing. I started caring for him as a person because I didnt have anybody at the time. One of thevideos was so graphic that a female juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. Jurors also viewed a separate DVD of Benavides trying to get his brother to destroy sex videos at his home as the investigation was underway. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison on each of the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons against him. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. She said she rejected his advances and later lost her license, her car, job and apartment. She has been excused from the trial and an alternate was put in her place. Mark A. Cantu, III v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline . Lopez was found guilty of the murder by the jury on June 5, 2018 and struggled against deputies moments after being convicted of the 2014 killing of Menchaca. He ran for judge and he used that as part of his operation, his judicial candidacy, as coercion, Young said. Ex-attorney Mark Benavides found guilty on all 6 counts of continuous trafficking of persons KSAT 12 193K views 4 years ago WATCH: Meteorologist Justin Horne gives his early weather forecast. 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. He faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. But hes a good person. Benavides faces up to 99 years or life in prison. Mark Benavides, a former San Antonio attorney, is accused of having sex with his clients in exchange for his legal services Prosecutors in a Texas court played footage of Benavides forcing. Mark Benavides is currently serving an 80-year prison term after he was convicted in 2018 of trading sex for legal services from women he was representing. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing trafficking of persons. Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved. July 20, 2020As many as 500 women who were represented by a disgraced, now-imprisoned San Antonio attorney could have their convictions overturned as Bexar County prosecutors review their cases with the help of the public defenders office. He did. She said she knew Benavides cheated, but said the couple have two children and she still supported him. The jurors were so shocked by the clip that the judge sent them out for a break. Please be fair. In this2018 file photo he sits in Judge Dick Alcalas courtroom to address his other pending pending cases. Uresti divorce: A week after state Sen. Carlos Urestis conviction in a salacious trial that included vivid testimony about him carrying on an extramarital relationship, his wife filed for divorce. Jacob's Well in Hill Country closed 'for foreseeable future', Dogs in fatal mauling linked to previous S.A. attacks. 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. 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. Linda Benavides testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of her husband, Mark Benavides, in Floresville. You can see RJ regularly on KSAT Explains and Good Morning San Antonio. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. This is a carousel. Mark Benavides was scheduled to appear . 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. When she asked why he was filming, he said it was just for him, she told the court. He lied to you, sitting here. He was in the wrong no matter what people did, said a 32-year-old woman who was one of Benavides' victims. 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 . I am not aware of what has happened, except what I heard on the news, she said. According to court documents, the district attorney's office cited insufficient evidence in dropping the charges. He is facing up to 99 years in prison. We know there are women that that did not want to talk. Its worth life, ladies and gentlemen, Chacon said in her closing argument. This latest indictment marks the fifth open case against him, including two charges of sexual assault of a child, one charge of sexual assault, and two charges of continuous trafficking of persons. 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. Benavides was indicted earlier this month for continuous trafficking of women between 2012 and 2015. 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. It's an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton replied. 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.. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing trafficking of persons. Mark Henry Benavides will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. While questioning the woman under cross-examination, defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero tried to suggest that their interactions remained friendly after his initial arrest. 'The jury found him guilty of crimes, not cheating.'. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege told the jury. Under cross examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. She was arrested in 2013 for DWI; he insisted she plead guilty even though she said she was innocent. Steege said he had not. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863. This month, Benavides was indicted again on a charge of continuous trafficking of persons in connection with alleged incidents that involved four women between 2012 and 2015. Each case is expected to be tried separately. Benavides was convicted in 2018 for six counts of human trafficking for trading sex for legal services. FLORESVILLE A juror hearing a sex case against a former San Antonio attorney fainted after seeing video of a sexual encounter involving the defendant as his trial opened Tuesday. 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. Benavides will have to serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Steege said he had not. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. Mark W Benavides, born Circa 1969 A 32-year-old woman victimized by a San Antonio attorney said she was 20 when she was arrested on a marijuana possession charge as a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Benavides texted and called her, describing in explicit terms the sex acts he wanted her to perform. Manage Settings He faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Marisol Morales is a licensed counselor with the Bexar County Public Defenders Office and may be reached at 210-335-0701. He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. Benavides wife, Linda, took the stand on Friday and asked the jury to please be fair.. 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.. Dismemberment trial: The murder trial of Gabriel Moreno, accused of killing Jose Luis Menchaca, began on Feb. 26, 2018. 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. San Antonio defense attorney Mark Benavides was running for a local judge's seat in 2015 when he was arrested and charged with coercing women to have sex with him as "payment" for his legal services. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. She told Benavides she did not want to have sex with him, but he still made me, she said. 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. More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. The father-of-two was convicted on all six counts he faced of continuous trafficking of persons and the panel took six hours to decide his sentences. The women said the alleged encounters took place at his law office, motels, his car and the courthouse, according to the affidavit. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. Her conviction has been overturned based on his ineffectual counsel. More: Man accused in death of trans woman wont face trial. At the time of Mark's court proceedings, Linda requested the jury to "please be fair as his kids love him so much." He said he would help me get my son back, the woman told the court. Mark Benavides, 48, is charged with continuous trafficking of persons, accused of having sex with clients in prostitution cases in exchange for legal services. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. He has applied for probation, according to court records. Mark Howerton, the victims boyfriend of four weeks, was jailed on Feb. 28, 2018, facing charges of murder and sexual assault. "I'm asking you to have mercy and give me the minimum," Benavides said while crying. So far, two women represented by Benavides have had their convictions overturned and their records expunged. Everyone in the car was charged with drug possession. His mother, Olga Benavides, defended her son on the witness stand, saying she didn't think he was guilty of trafficking charges. A traffic stop and no one claimed it paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for with. 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