Benavides is facing a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison on each count. It took the panel nearly four hours to find Benavides, 48, guilty on all six counts. The witness pointed out Benavides in court and also identified him in photographs by his tattoos Asian writings on the back of each forearm and a large image of the scales of justice down the center of his back. Benavides repeatedly ordered the woman to 'come back here' in the footage, while the woman pressed her hands against her face and sobbed. 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 . More: San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged relativedies two weeks after shooting. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. You can see RJ regularly on KSAT Explains and Good Morning San Antonio. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. Even though her record has been expunged, shes still trying to get her drivers license back and pay off fines and fees associated with the original charge. She agreed to tell her story on the condition that she not be . Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms. Norton told the jury that this wasnt Benavides trial alone, that it was shared with every single person who took the stand and told their stories. the woman, 29, cried on the video. Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. Benavides was arrested in November 2015 and charged with compelling prostitution in cases involving at least nine female clients. The jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m. Mark Henry Benavides will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts on the Express-News Crime Team. 'Sometimes he would ask me my name, how old I was, and ask, 'What are you going to do?' The sentences will be served at the same time. 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. 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. Its not something thats far in the past, Morales said. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege 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. 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. So far, two women represented by Benavides have had their convictions overturned and their records expunged. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms. "I'm asking you to have mercy and give me the minimum," Benavides said while crying. She was encouraged to answer: 'I'm going to [expletive] my lawyer.' Its rattlesnake season in Texas. She later was excused and an alternate was seated. But hes a good person. Read more of her stories here. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. One of thevideos was so graphic that a female juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt. Texas ranch that's half the size of Rhode Island still S.A. developer buys hotel property near Market Square, UTSA, TaskUs swings to profit as it continues growing globally, Murder charge dropped in S.A. toddlers drive-by death, Strong storms ahead of cold front to bring severe weather risk, As avian flu endures, Texas farmers try to protect flocks. Please be fair. During the trial,San Antonio Police Department Detective Manual Morales testified that police found a filing cabinet at Benavides' home containing 246 of what the detective called "pornographic DVDs" that showed Benavides having sex with women who police said were Benavides' clients. As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. It's an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton replied. Heres what you need to know. He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. Due to the large amounts of publicity surrounding the case, the trial was moved from Bexar County to Wilson County. The next day, employees discovered her body missing from a damaged casket. 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. She was later excused and replaced with an alternate. Her conviction has been overturned based on his ineffectual counsel. He has applied for probation, according to court records. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt, she said. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. 07:32 GMT 08 Apr 2018. He did. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Cayley Mandadi, a Trinity University cheerleader, died on Oct. 31, 2017 after falling unconscious in a car traveling to Houston. , updated Six accusers testified he forced them to have sex, making them believe it would keep them out of jail or lessen their legal problems. Many of the acts were recorded, and now, upon further review of the case, prosecutors said they found more victims in need of justice. Salacious Uresti testimony: Denise Cantu, a Harlingen woman whom Uresti helped obtain a $2.5 million legal settlement over the deaths of two of her children in a 2010 vehicle wreck, told jurors that the lawmaker became her financial adviser, confidante, friend and eventually lover. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. 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 accusers said those sexual encounters took placeon days when they had court dates, and sometimes would occurin jury and witness rooms in the courthouse. The jury found him guilty of crimes, not cheating.. It took the panel about six hours to decide on the sentences for the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. Under questioning by Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex - San Antonio Express-News. 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. Things changed the day she had a court appearance on her drug charge. 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. Mark Benavides (right) and defense attorney Liza Rodriguez are in court Thursday during the punishment phase of his trial in Wilson County District Court and Justice Center in Floresville. She said Benavides would pick her up from her home, take her to the River Inn Motel at Guadalupe and South Frio streets downtown, tell her what to do and which sexual positions he wanted, and use a handheld video recorder to capture the encounters from start to finish. He said he would help me get my son back, the woman told the court. Defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero said Benavides admitted he lost his moral compass, and although he deserves to be punished, she asked for mercy. Benavides was found guilty Tuesday on six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. 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. Its an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton said. Another victim, now 51, was arrested in 2013 for DWI. Benavides, 50, was convicted in 2018 of six counts of human trafficking and coercing his clients to have sex with him. She said they would go to a motel in San Antonio, where he told her what to do sexually while recording the encounter. 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. Earlier, his wife told the jury deciding his punishment to be fair because he does not deserve this.. Dismemberment trial: The murder trial of Gabriel Moreno, accused of killing Jose Luis Menchaca, began on Feb. 26, 2018. 'The jury found him guilty of crimes, not cheating.'. Benavides had sex with women he represented in criminal cases, according to an arrest warrant affidavit following an investigation by the Bexar County District Attorney's Office and the San. Linda Benavides, Mark's wife, testified on Friday morning and asked the jury to "please be fair." She said she knew Benavides cheated, but said the couple have two children and she still. RELATED:Expert: Guilty ex-S.A. attorney displayed arousal to violent sex. She couldnt afford another attorney she was afraid to hire one anyway and she remembers thinking to herself, If I dont go along with this dude, hes going to screw me in other ways. 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. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. He also writes a weekly Spurs newsletter. 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. I felt young and dumb and powerless. Benavides was first arrested in November 2015, charged with compelling prostitution from at least nine female clients. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing trafficking of persons. Meredith Chacon, also prosecuting, branded Benavides 'a pimp in a suit' during her closing arguments. Benavides wife, Linda, took the stand on Friday and asked the jury to please be fair.. RELATED: New Braunfels man with history of 'deviant' sex acts with vegetables sentenced to life in prison. The sentences will be served at the same time. Texas Democrat, Attorney Mark Benavides, has been found guilty on six counts of sex trafficking and torture by a judge in San Antonio. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Benavides will have to serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. He did. 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. Steege said he had not. 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. On Tuesday, prosecutors in a Texas court played footage of Benavides forcing one such client to have anal sex with him, KSAT reported. It was creepy, throwing advances like that, and he wants me to put out for him to help me. But he's a good person. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. Hes a lawyer running for judge!, She remembers him saying, If you arent going to play the way I want you to play with me, Im not going to help you.. Mark Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, appears in the Wilson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Floresville, TX. Benavides will serve 80 years for each count but the time will. 'He cheated. Defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero said Benavides admitted he lost his moral compass, and although he deserves to be punished, she asked for mercy. It took the panel nearly four hours to find Benavides, 48, guilty on all six. Several additional indictments have been added since. The jurors looked so uncomfortable that District Judge Dick Alcala sent them out for a break, and as they exited, a woman on the jury fainted at the door. Ex-SA lawyer's mother defends convicted son on witness stand. According to court documents, the district attorney's office cited insufficient evidence in dropping the charges. Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. She said Benavides told her to say 'bye' to the camera after they finished. In this2018 file photo he sits in Judge Dick Alcalas courtroom to address his other pending. It took the panel about six hours to decide on the sentences for the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. When she had to see him, she would bring her mother along. Mark Howerton, the victims boyfriend of four weeks, was jailed on Feb. 28, 2018, facing charges of murder and sexual assault. Each case is expected to be tried separately. Former attorney Mark Benavides was in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing. We are asking you for 25 years, she said. Read more of her stories here. When prosecutor Jay Norton asked her if her husband committed a crime, Benavides said she couldnt say, because she was not allowed to hear testimony. He ran for judge and he used that as part of his operation, his judicial candidacy, as coercion, Young said. The San Antonio attorney is accused of coercing clients into having sex with him in exchange for money or legal services. She was charged with possession of marijuana when police found the drug in a car she was riding in but she didn't have it on her person. When questioned by prosecutor Jay Norton about whether she thought her husband had committed a crime she replied: 'I am not aware of what has happened, except what I heard on the news. The intense media coverage prompted a change of venue to Floresville in Wilson County, where a jury heard testimony from six women Benavides had represented in prostitution or drug cases. 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. Its worth life, ladies and gentlemen, Chacon said in her closing argument. After the judge ruled the evidence was insufficient, the victims mother collapsed in the courtroom. 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