Ex-SA lawyer's mother defends convicted son on witness stand. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. 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. Reyes survived for two weeks before being pronounced dead. 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. He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. Since then, the Conviction Integrity Unit reviewed evidence in the case and identified more than 50 women he represented and whose cases may have been tainted. 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 Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, appears in the Wilson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Floresville, TX. One of the women, now 32, covered her eyes and stifled tears as she recounted her ordeal. 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. Please be fair. Steege said he had not. 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. Jurors were shown a video recorded by one of Benavides alleged victims showing a violent sexual . Benavides faces up to 99 years or life in prison. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. The jury found him guilty of crimes, not cheating.. Each case will be tried separately. 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. Six accusers testified he forced them to have sex, making them believe it would keep them out of jail or lessen their legal problems. Mark Steege, a sex therapist, testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of Mark Benavides in Floresville. 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. They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion, Norton said. Required fields are marked *. The woman said Benavides kept trying to meet with her after that episode, but she was afraid. 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. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced them into having sex to keep them out of jail or lessen their legal troubles, and videotaped the encounters, which were shown to the jury. By
It was creepy, throwing advances like that, and he wants me to put out for him to help me. Shes pleased that the conviction is now off her record, thanks to the DAs and public defenders offices. Its an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton said. 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. 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. He is a calculating and manipulating liar, she told the jury. But why should I have to do that?. The evidence against Benavides included portions of 246 videos the lawyer recorded of himself having sex with his clients. "I'm so sorry. He said he knew police and judges and I didnt know who to try to ask for help, she said. This is a carousel. But Benavides said he believed the encounters were consensual and testified that trading sex in exchange for legal services was never discussed. He wanted to meet up.. A witness described the crime scene as a "horror move" in testimony. Apparently, this has been going on for virtually his entire legal career, here. She said she rejected his overtures. He said he would help me get my son back.. He threatened that if they did not, he would withhold legal services, sabotage their cases and make sure they went to prison. Bendavid was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to a Belgian-born mother and a Moroccan-Jewish father. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. 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. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt, she said. Under cross-examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. Her testimony came a day after Benavides took the stand. She told Benavides she did not want to have sex with him, but he still made me, she said. Dismemberment trial: The murder trial of Gabriel Moreno, accused of killing Jose Luis Menchaca, began on Feb. 26, 2018. When I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. Rodriguez argued that Benavides did not kill someone and should not be sent away for life. But hes a good person. The women state they employed Benavides as their lawyer for their prostitution cases but that he would coerce them into having sex in exchange for their legal problems being lessened, including dismissal of their cases. 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. The San Antonio attorney is accused of coercing clients into having sex with him in exchange for money or legal services. 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 . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Mark Henry Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons for having sex with clients he represented on prostitution or drug cases. Each case is expected to be tried separately. After the judge ruled the evidence was insufficient, the victims mother collapsed in the courtroom. Misael started at KSAT-TV as a photojournalist in 1987. He also writes a weekly Spurs newsletter. 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. He was in the wrong no matter what people did, said a 32-year-old woman who was one of Benavides' victims. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing trafficking of persons. Benavides will have to serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. Benavides was found guilty Tuesday on six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. She said they would go to a motel in San Antonio, where he told her what to do sexually while recording the encounter. , updated Fundraiser honors San Marcos child who was struck, killed CPS Energy sells circular Villita Assembly Building. This is a carousel. More: Man accused in death of trans woman wont face trial. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Under questioning by Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. 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More: S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. Benavides was convicted of having sex with female clients in exchange for his legal services.
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. She was convicted of the DUI charge and was sentenced to two years probation, which she completed in 2016. Things changed the day she had a court appearance on her drug charge. Benavides is accused of having sex with his clients in exchange for legal services. 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.
A Wilson County jury found Benavides guilty on Tuesday. There are women we did speak to that did not want to participate," said Meredith Chacon, a prosecutor. He attended Unionville High School and was subsequently accepted into National Theatre School of Canada, graduating in 2004.. Career. May 25, 2022 . Copyright 2018 by KSAT - All rights reserved. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege 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. Read more of her stories here. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. 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. Benavides texted and called her, describing in explicit terms the sex acts he wanted her to perform. 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. Its a very important function and a priority in our office, said District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales. Under questioning by Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. He paid more attention; we spent a lot more time with the kids, she told the court. Prosecutors said Benavides traded sex for legal services. Michelle Fair Hilliker, seated at center, consoles a victim testifying in the Mark Benavides trial. He wasnt playing around. Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. I started caring for him as a person because I didnt have anybody at the time. Taken advantage of, really, the woman recalled. Many of the acts were recorded, and now, upon further review of the case, prosecutors said they found more victims in need of justice. Under cross examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. Steege said he had not. More: San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged relativedies two weeks after shooting. Officials said the call will be kept confidential. 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. Personal Life, Parents and Family Details : Your email address will not be published. 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. SAN ANTONIO -- The former lawyer convicted of exchanging legal services will be heading to prison after additional cases against him were dropped on Tuesday. 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. But the experience left her deeply scarred. 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. Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. He will serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. Former clients who were victimized by him are asked to call Morales at 210-335-0701. Menchaca was allegedly beaten with baseball bats, dismembered and grilled on a barbecue pit in 2014. This is human trafficking, Chacon said. He cheated. 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. He transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. 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. I felt young and dumb and powerless. Marisol Morales is a licensed counselor with the Bexar County Public Defenders Office and may be reached at 210-335-0701. Detectives recovered 246 mini DVDs containing hundreds of videos in which he was seen directing the women during often violent sex. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. The woman who had been charged with drug possession encouraged victims to make that call. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison. As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. 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. 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. Benavides was convicted. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege said. 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. Six months later, she was charged with driving under the influence, and she hired him to represent her. 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." 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.'. At the time he had been running as a candidate as a state district judge. 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. They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion, Norton said. Benavides told her she had to plead guilty to stay out of prison. 14:01 GMT 07 Apr 2018 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. Reyes survived for two weeks before being pronounced dead. One after another, she lost her drivers license, her car, her job, her apartment. He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. In April 2016, a jury indicted the San Antonio-based lawyer on multiple counts of sexual assault and compelling prostitution. He is now treatable.. During the trial, some of the graphic and sexually explicit encounters were played for the jury. You can see RJ regularly on KSAT Explains and Good Morning San Antonio. He did. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. She agreed to tell her story on the condition that she not be . 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. Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: 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. 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