Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison on each of the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons against him. 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. When she pushed back, he was true to his word. The case was tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. At the end, she said, he would ask her to say bye to the camera. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. 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. But Benavides said he believed the encounters were consensual and testified that trading sex in exchange for legal services was never discussed. Prosecutor Michelle Chacon questioned the victim, who explained that she had sex with Benavides in July 2014 for her bond on the day he became her court-appointed attorney. She said Benavides told her to say 'bye' to the camera after they finished. After the judge ruled the evidence was insufficient, the victims mother collapsed in the courtroom. The sentences will be served at the same time. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Both said Benavides actions cast a cloud over the entire legal profession in Bexar County. The trial started last week and included testimony from all six accusers. , updated More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. More: San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged relativedies two weeks after shooting. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. Under cross-examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. 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 . 'You're hurting me Don't be so rough.'. He said he knew police and judges and I didnt know who to try to ask for help, she said. They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion, Norton said. Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. She said Benavides flirted with her and offered to help her incarcerated son. Both told their stories to the Express-News, on condition their names not be published. She said she knew Benavides cheated, but said the couple have two children and she still supported him. 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.. More: S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? 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. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. At the time he had been running as a candidate as a state district judge. She later was excused and an alternate was seated. 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. He was in the wrong no matter what people did, said a 32-year-old woman who was one of Benavides' victims. 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. Dismemberment trial: The murder trial of Gabriel Moreno, accused of killing Jose Luis Menchaca, began on Feb. 26, 2018. She had been a passenger in a car when police found marijuana during a traffic stop and no one claimed it. Cayley Mandadi, a Trinity University cheerleader, died on Oct. 31, 2017 after falling unconscious in a car traveling to Houston. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing 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. Your lawyer is supposed to help you, not hurt you.. A member of the jury collapsed after watching some of the images on the first day of the trial. Personal Life, Parents and Family Details : Mark was born on October 1st, 1969. "Theres others out there, I know. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Mark Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, appears in the Wilson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Floresville, TX. 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. 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. On ExpressNews.com: Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex. But hes a good person. Prosecutors said Benavides traded sex for legal services. Senior District Judge Dick Alcala confers with prosecuting and defense attorneys after watching sex tapes of former San Antonio lawyer Mark Benavides in the Wilson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Floresville, TX. 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. 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. So far, two women represented by Benavides have had their convictions overturned and their records expunged. Mark W Benavides, born Circa 1969 attorney mark benavides wife. I felt like he was coming on to me, and I didnt like it.. 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 Steege, a sex therapist, testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of Mark Benavides in Floresville. 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. Rodriguez argued that Benavides did not kill someone and should not be sent away for life. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863. 'It's an understatement to call it cheating if it's a criminal act,' Norton said. As they were walking out, one woman fainted at the door. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. The next day, employees discovered her body missing from a damaged casket. 14:01 GMT 07 Apr 2018 She is heard stating, Mark, it hurts! He did. He still faces a possible charge for aggravated assault with severe bodily injury. He threatened that if they did not, he would withhold legal services, sabotage their cases and make sure they went to prison. The sentences will be served at the same time. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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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. He lied to you, sitting here. She told Benavides she did not want to have sex with him, but he still made me, she said. More: Jury deadlocks in murder case involving San Antonio man whose remains were grilled. 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. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms. 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. 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. There are 30+ professionals named "Mark Benavides", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. 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. 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. Mark A Benavides, born Circa 1971 Mark A Benavides was born circa 1971. Read more of her stories here. As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. Copyright 2018 by KSAT - All rights reserved. More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. 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. He isfacing the possibility of life in prison. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison on each of the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons against him. 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. The jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m. And he did.. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison. Marisol Morales, a case manager at the Public Defenders Office, has been working with the two women and others Benavides abused. Benavides was arrested in November 2015 while he was running for Bexar County District judge, and was indicted in April 2016. It took the panel about six hours to decide on the sentences for the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Bendavid played the role of Barbara Hershey's character's son Dominic Blythe in Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning. 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. We know there are women that that did not want to talk. She was granted probation and successfully completed it. Jurors were shown a video recorded by one of Benavides alleged victims showing a violent sexual encounter. S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? 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. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. 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Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. Mark Henry Benavides was immediately taken into custody Tuesday night in Floresville, where the trial was heard. 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 has applied for probation, according to court records. SAN ANTONIO -- The former lawyer convicted of exchanging legal services will be heading to prison after additional cases against him were dropped on Tuesday. 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. When she had to see him, she would bring her mother along. Misael started at KSAT-TV as a photojournalist in 1987. I started caring for him as a person because I didnt have anybody at the time. 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. FLORESVILLE, Texas UPDATE: Jurors on Friday sentenced convictedformer San Antonio attorney Mark Benavidesto 80 years in prison for each of his six counts of human trafficking. A now 51-year-old woman was arrested in 2013 on a DWI charge and hired Mark Benavides as her attorney. May 25, 2022 . When you drill down deeper and what weve seen in the cases, its actually extortion, said lead Bexar County Public Defender Michael Young. More: Man accused in death of trans woman wont face 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. He attended Unionville High School and was subsequently accepted into National Theatre School of Canada, graduating in 2004.. Career. He did. 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 saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. Besides offering more indoor exhibit space and outdoor interpretation in a quieter, pedestrian-friendly area, Stephen Harrigan suggests the public-private Alamo project will help people better Former attorney Mark Benavides enters the courtroom of Judge Dick Alcala on Friday during the punishment phase of his trial in Floresville. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced. He said he would help me get my son back, the woman told the court. 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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. He also writes a weekly Spurs newsletter. The jury found Benavides guilty of all six counts and sentenced him to 80 years in prison. Six accusers testified he forced them to have sex, making them believe it would keep them out of jail or lessen their legal problems. Who does that? she asked. 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. The sexual encounters would take place in his law office, his car, at motels, or at the courthouse. 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 took the panel nearly four hours to find Benavides, 48, guilty on all six. 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 will serve 80 years for each count but the time will. At first, Benavides would text or call her when he was lonely or bored, she said. More: 'A classic sociopath: Abused victims of Stone Oak playboy speak out after years of violence. Her parents, Abdulah Fahmi Kala Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Sabah Al Hishmawi, 33, were arrested on Friday, March 23, 2018. Everyone in the car was charged with drug possession. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. His sentences will run concurrently, and he will be eligible for parole in 30 years. Please be fair. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. They are urging other victims to come forward to keep him in prison for good. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Under cross examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. She claims he would pick her up at her home and take her to the River Inn Motel downtown on Guadalupe and South Frio streets. 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. 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. 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