This is a carousel. 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. Benavides forced six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases to have sex with him in return for legal help. juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. Meredith Chacon prosecuting attorney in the Mark Benavides trial, talks to another attorney after a female juror fainted having just watched a sex tape of former San Antonio lawyer Benavides, in the Wilson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Floresville, TX. The punishment phase is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Wilson County District Court in Floresville. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. Benavides repeatedly ordered the woman to 'come back here' in the footage, while the woman pressed her hands against her face and sobbed. Marisol Morales is a licensed counselor with the Bexar County Public Defenders Office and may be reached at 210-335-0701. Murder-suicide at upscale apartment complex:Tania Rendon-Santiago was killed at her apartment complex in the 1800 block of Broadway Street in an apparent murder-suicide on March 12. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. The victim identified Benavides as the man and also identified him in photographs by this tattoos, which are Asian writings on each of his forearms and a large image of the scales of justice down his back. I am not aware of what has happened, except what I heard on the news, she said. Copyright 2018 by KSAT - All rights reserved. But he's a good person. 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. "I'm asking you to have mercy and give me the minimum," Benavides said while crying. 07:32 GMT 08 Apr 2018. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts on the Express-News Crime Team. Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex - San Antonio Express-News. The trial started last week and included testimony from all six accusers. 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. His kids love him so much,' she told the jury while crying. On ExpressNews.com: Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex. Her testimony came a day after Benavides took the stand. Dahlberg and Young want more of Benavides victims to come forward to have their cases reviewed. He threatened that if they did not, he would withhold legal services, sabotage their cases and make sure they went to prison. Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. Paul Venema (@PaulVenema12) March 27 . 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The next day, employees discovered her body missing from a damaged casket. 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. We are asking you for 25 years, she said. The two agencies, normally on opposing sides, are working together to ensure justice for the victims of disbarred lawyer Mark Henry Benavides, who was once a candidate for state district judge. The video caused one juror to faint, according to the Express News. Benavides will have to serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. He still faces a possible charge for aggravated assault with severe bodily injury. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. 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. What I saw yesterday (Benavides testimony), was a totally different man. Ex-SA lawyer's mother defends convicted son on witness stand. 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." FLORESVILLE, Texas Closing arguments were set to begin Friday afternoon in the punishment phase of the trial for former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides. Prosecutors said Benavides will be back in a courtroom to face additional charges. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking in persons and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. Earlier, his wife told the jury deciding his punishment to be fair because he does not deserve this.. Taken advantage of, really, the woman recalled. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863. This is a carousel. Benavides attorneys declined to comment on the verdict or sentencing. Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. Summary: After watching a graphic video of a sexual encounter between a former San Antonio attorney and one of his victims, a juror passed out. Former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides is serving 80 years in prison for forcing former clients into having sex. 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. When you drill down deeper and what weve seen in the cases, its actually extortion, said lead Bexar County Public Defender Michael Young. She hired attorney Mark Benavides, who she said began demanding sex, threatening that if she didn't "play with him" he would ensure she and her son, who had an unrelated case in another court, would be send to prison. He did. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. But hes a good person. This jury understood that., RELATED: S.A. company responds after woman finds 'teeth' in barbacoa. 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. He said he made amends to his family, and what does his wife tell you? The woman said that, eventually, Benavides stopped talking to her about her drug case except to urge her to plead guilty. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. He was in the wrong no matter what people did, said a 32-year-old woman who was one of Benavides' victims. More: Couple get $8 million for loss of daughters body from San Antonio funeral home. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. The case was tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. As they were walking out, one woman fainted at the door. Several of clients claimed that Benavides promised them he'd help them, and even get the cases thrown out altogether if they slept with him, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. He also writes a weekly Spurs newsletter. She claims he forced her to have anal sex. More: San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged relativedies two weeks after shooting. She has been excused from the trial and an alternate was put in her place. He cheated. Read more of her stories here. And so, I think its hard to know how many women out there were subjected to this kind of undue influence, Young said. She said Benavides told her to say 'bye' to the camera after they finished. 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. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero said Benavides admitted he lost his moral compass, and although he deserves to be punished, she asked for mercy. More: Man accused in death of trans woman wont face trial. They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion, Norton said. The second victim whose record has been expunged met Benavides when she was at the Bexar County Courthouse with her son, who was facing an assault charge. He said he knew police and judges and I didnt know who to try to ask for help, she said. This is a carousel. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Reyes survived for two weeks before being pronounced dead. 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. 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 eventually started asking me for small stuff, meet up for lunch, stuff like that, the woman said. FLORESVILLE A Wilson County jury on Friday sentenced a former San Antonio attorney to 80 years in prison on each of the six counts he faced for coercing clients into sex. Benavides attorneys declined to comment on the verdict or sentencing. He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. But he's a good person. Who does that? she asked. Benavides faces up to 99 years or life in prison. "" 11-23; 09-29; 09-29; 2021 09-17 "" . }] Benavides was convicted of having sex with female clients in exchange for his legal services. The San Antonio attorney is accused of coercing clients into having sex with him in exchange for money or legal services. While the video played, the victim cried with her hands over her face in the courtroom as she can be heard in the video pleading for Benavides to stop. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. Steege said he saw a dramatic change in Benavides, from arrogant and entitled when they first met, to humble and treatable. In halting sobs, Benavidesapologized and asked for forgiveness as he testified. May 25, 2022 . This is human trafficking, Chacon said. Benavides was arrested in November 2015 and charged with compelling prostitution in cases involving at least nine female clients. Benavides is facing a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison on each count. More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. Jurors on Friday afternoon are deliberating the fate of former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides. Heres what you need to know. 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. 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. She further testified, Sometimes he would ask me my name, how old I was, and ask, What are you going to do? Her reply was, Im going to f*** my lawyer., During cross-examination, defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero suggested that the interactions were friendly even after his arrest. Manage Settings I thought I was alone. There would be threats by Benavides to the women that If you dont plea, Im going to make sure you go to jail., Ex-SA lawyer Mark Benavides takes stand during sentencing phase of sex crimes trial. 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. Mark Steege, a sex therapist, testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of Mark Benavides in Floresville. He faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Mark A Benavides, born Circa 1971 Mark A Benavides was born circa 1971. Their accounts paint a harrowing picture of how the justice system went awry in their cases. 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' wife of 11 years, Linda, appeared at the trial's sentencing phase to urge the jury to 'please be fair' as she announced she was staying with him, reported Express News. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. Lleanna Uresti cited adultery among the reasons for seeking to end the couples nearly six-year union, according to the petition filed March 2, 2018. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege told the jury. Mark Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, appears in the Wilson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Floresville, TX. iago physical appearance; renaissance musical instruments for sale; sarah marie johnson today; subaru temperature light flashing red and blue; how to use rear camera on face scan 2k22; philadelphia cheesecake crumble recipe; . The women said the alleged encounters took place at his law office, motels, his car and the courthouse, according to the affidavit. Benavides is being tried in. 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This is human trafficking, Chacon said. 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 I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Benavides is accused of having sex with his clients in exchange for legal services. The case is being heard at the Wilson County under a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. scott van pelt wife age. The latest indictment is the fifth open case against Benavides. Steege said he had not. 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. 'Sometimes he would ask me my name, how old I was, and ask, 'What are you going to do?' Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt, she said. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. District Judge Dick Alcala noticed that the jurors were looking distraught so he ordered a break. Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role. Someof the graphic and sexually explicit videos were played for jurors. 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. Benavides was arrested in November 2015 while he was running for Bexar County District judge, and was indicted in April 2016. 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