'He cheated. What I saw yesterday (Benavides testimony), was a totally different man. "We know there are women we could never ID. S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? Read more of her stories here. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Both sides rested their cases and are expected to begin closing arguments this afternoon. Mark Henry Benavides will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. We are asking you for 25 years, she said. 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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. It's an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton replied. In April 2016, a jury indicted the San Antonio-based lawyer on multiple counts of sexual assault and compelling prostitution. 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. The case is being heard at the Wilson County under a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. The jurors were so shocked by the clip that the judge sent them out for a break. 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. Menchaca was allegedly beaten with baseball bats, dismembered and grilled on a barbecue pit in 2014. He still faces a possible charge for aggravated assault with severe bodily injury. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. 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. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison. Officials said the women were. He was in the wrong no matter what people did, said a 32-year-old woman who was one of Benavides' victims. Mark Henry Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons for having sex with clients he represented on prostitution or drug cases. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. I felt like he wasnt even trying to help me anymore, but I already had given him $3,000 and I couldnt afford another lawyer, she said. 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. The trial against former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides began Tuesday with a graphic start. A member of the jury collapsed after watching some of the images on the first day of the trial. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. He is now treatable.. 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.. The woman said a friend referred her to Benavides in 2008 for legal representation. When I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. He cheated. 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." Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: 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. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced. Meredith Chacon, also prosecuting, branded Benavides 'a pimp in a suit' during her closing arguments. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt. juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. He isfacing the possibility of life in prison. Please be fair. 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. 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. Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: This is human trafficking, Chacon 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.. But Benavides said he believed the encounters were consensual and testified that trading sex in exchange for legal services was never discussed. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. The San Antonio attorney is accused of coercing clients into having sex with him in exchange for money or legal services. Both said Benavides actions cast a cloud over the entire legal profession in Bexar County. I felt young and dumb and powerless. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. But he's a good person. Former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides is serving 80 years in prison for forcing former clients into having sex. Their accounts paint a harrowing picture of how the justice system went awry in their cases. The jury found him guilty of crimes, not cheating.. Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. This is a carousel. More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. 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. Its the reason she agreed to speak out about what happened, despite her continuing fear of Benavides. Prosecutors said Benavides traded sex for legal services. More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. There are women we did speak to that did not want to participate," said Meredith Chacon, a prosecutor. The defense has already filed an appeal. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. Jurors were shown a video recorded by one of Benavides alleged victims showing a violent sexual encounter. 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. I'm unaware, other than what's on the news.. 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. 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. 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. Officials said the call will be kept confidential. A witness described the crime scene as a "horror move" in testimony. 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. Its something that is very present for them.. Do you think the charges should be lumped into one trial? Benavides still faces two charges of sexual assault of a child, a charge of sexual assault and another charge of continuous trafficking of persons. 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. When she pushed back, he was true to his word. The sexual encounters would take place in his law office, his car, at motels, or at the courthouse. They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion, Norton said. In a video played in court that only the jury could see, the woman could be heard crying, Mark, it hurts! He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege said. 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; . I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. At first, Benavides would text or call her when he was lonely or bored, she said. Under cross examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. 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, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking in persons and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. Mark Howerton, the victims boyfriend of four weeks, was jailed on Feb. 28, 2018, facing charges of murder and sexual assault. 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. He is now treatable.. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. SAN ANTONIO -- The former lawyer convicted of exchanging legal services will be heading to prison after additional cases against him were dropped on Tuesday. 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. When she had to see him, she would bring her mother along. Each case is expected to be tried separately. Required fields are marked *. On ExpressNews.com: Four pending sex cases against convicted ex-San Antonio attorney dismissed. 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. Rodriguez argued that Benavides did not kill someone and should not be sent away for life. Benavides was arrested in November 2015 while he was running for Bexar County District judge, and was indicted in April 2016. Michelle Fair Hilliker, seated at center, consoles a victim testifying in the Mark Benavides trial. Born and reared in San Antonio, she graduated from Fox Tech High School in 1981 and has been a newspaper journalist since she graduated from Texas Woman's University at Denton in 1985. You can see RJ regularly on KSAT Explains and Good Morning San Antonio. She told jurors Feb. 1, 2018, that she and Uresti would have sex in his law office. Mark Henry Benavides was immediately taken into custody Tuesday night in Floresville, where the trial was heard. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. She said Benavides flirted with her and offered to help her incarcerated son. Ex-SA lawyer's mother defends convicted son on witness stand. She said she knew Benavides cheated, but said the couple have two children and she still supported him. 14:01 GMT 07 Apr 2018 Youre hurting me. she testified. He faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. This jury understood that., RELATED: S.A. company responds after woman finds 'teeth' in barbacoa. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. But I was thinking of freedom for my son, freedom for me. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. Each case will be tried separately. Her conviction has been overturned based on his ineffectual counsel. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. The next day, employees discovered her body missing from a damaged casket. But he's a good person. 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. Prosecutors said rather than tack on more prison time for Benavides, who is eligible for parole in about 28 years, theyre more interested in making sure the clients he represented are receiving due justice for their cases. 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. 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 transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. He wanted to meet up.. He attended Unionville High School and was subsequently accepted into National Theatre School of Canada, graduating in 2004.. Career. 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. 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