This was someone within our legal community, Dahlberg said. 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. He faces two charges of sexual assault of a child, one charge of sexual assault and two charges of continuous trafficking of persons, according to court records. Cruz, Abbott and others react to Castro's cancer diagnosis, Rep. Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, undergoes surgery, San Antonio's first car elevator is ready to start accepting cars, Buc-ees planning new travel centers in Wisconsin, Florida. One of the women, now 32, covered her eyes and stifled tears as she recounted her ordeal. SAN ANTONIO - Though former attorney Mark Benavides is serving an 80-year prison term for trading his legal services for sex, his case is still under review by the Bexar County District. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Misael started at KSAT-TV as a photojournalist in 1987. More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. This is human trafficking, Chacon said. When she pushed back, he was true to his word. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. They are urging other victims to come forward to keep him in prison for good. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. The 48-year-old, who has since been disbarred, was first arrested in November 2015 accused of using force or coercing at least nine female clients into prostitution. In halting sobs, Benavidesapologized and asked for forgiveness as he testified. In a video played in court that only the jury could see, the woman could be heard crying, Mark, it hurts! Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role. 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. 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. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison. Benavides is being tried in. Each case will be tried separately. Texas Democrat, Attorney Mark Benavides, has been found guilty on six counts of sex trafficking and torture by a judge in San Antonio. 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. Linda Benavides, Marks wife, testified on Friday morning and asked the jury to please be fair.. 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. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. She was incredulous. S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? He has applied for probation, according to court records. } {"duration": "400ms","fill": "both","iterations": "1","direction": "alternate","animations": [{"selector": "#scrollToTopButton","keyframes": [{"opacity": "0","visibility": "hidden" Benavidesapologized Thursday and asked for forgiveness as he testified. Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. The punishment phase is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Wilson County District Court in Floresville. 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. Benavides was convicted in 2018 for six counts of human trafficking for trading sex for legal services. 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. 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. He also writes a weekly Spurs newsletter. It took the panel about six hours to decide on the sentences for the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. The woman said Benavides kept trying to meet with her after that episode, but she was afraid. We are asking you for 25 years, she said. Several additional indictments have been added since. He faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. 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 jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m. 'You're hurting me Don't be so rough.'. To learn more about the case against Benavides, read these articles: Lawyers from various law firms, including MotleyRice, Morgan & Morgan, and Cory Watson, are flocking, Disbarred lawyer Alex Murdaugh took the stand on Thursday to deny murdering his wife and, J. Michael Connolly is set to debut his argument in the US Supreme Court in, {"duration": "400ms","fill": "both","iterations": "1","direction": "alternate","animations": [{"selector": "#scrollToTopButton","keyframes": [{"opacity": "1","visibility": "visible" As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. He is accused of having sex with his clients in exchange for legal services. Prosecutors said Benavides' conviction has tainted some 5,000 cases and convictions he was involved in. 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. 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"" 11-23; 09-29; 09-29; 2021 09-17 "" . | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863, Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. He transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. 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. Read more of her stories here. A member of the jury collapsed after watching some of the images on the first day of the trial. He is facing up to 99 years in prison. "Theres others out there, I know. 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 also writes a weekly Spurs newsletter. Manage Settings When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. Public Defender Michael Young is working with the Bexar County District Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity Unit to review hundreds of Benavides cases with an eye toward overturning unfair convictions. 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. 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. FLORESVILLE The wife of a former San Antonio attorney convicted of having sex with clients in exchange for legal services asked jurors here who will decide his punishment to be fair, because he does not deserve this.. 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. It dragged on for nearly four years. Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. Each case is expected to be tried separately. He threatened that if they did not, he would withhold legal services, sabotage their cases and make sure they went to prison. 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. 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 hes a good person. Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. Its rattlesnake season in Texas. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege said. The jury found Benavides guilty of all six counts and sentenced him to 80 years in prison. 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. The juror was replaced by an alternate. Mark A Benavides, born Circa 1971 Mark A Benavides was born circa 1971. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. In April 2016, a jury indicted the San Antonio-based lawyer on multiple counts of sexual assault and compelling prostitution. A Texas jury sentenced former San Antonio lawyer Mark Benavides to 80 years in prison April 6 for coercing clients to have sex with him in exchange for legal services. I was never alone with him after that, she said. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. After the judge ruled the evidence was insufficient, the victims mother collapsed in the courtroom. 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. 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. He will serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. Officials said the women were. 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But why should I have to do that?. Her conviction has been overturned based on his ineffectual counsel. attorney mark benavides wife. She said she knew Benavides cheated, but said the couple have two children and she still supported him. Your lawyer is supposed to help you, not hurt you.. He did. The next day, employees discovered her body missing from a damaged casket. He transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. It was creepy, throwing advances like that, and he wants me to put out for him to help me. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt. Former attorney Mark Benavides enters the courtroom of Judge Dick Alcala on Friday during the punishment phase of his trial in Floresville. Mark Benavides was scheduled to appear . Steege said he had not. 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.. He still faces a possible charge for aggravated assault with severe bodily injury. He was in the wrong no matter what people did.. Read more of her stories here. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. 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. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. 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 wife. Don't be so rough, as Benavides made sexually explicit commands and repeatedly told her, Come back here, as the woman sobbed. They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion, Norton said. This is a carousel. At the time of Mark's court proceedings, Linda requested the jury to "please be fair as his kids love him so much." A former San Antonio attorney has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for forcing his clients to have sex with him in return for legal services. Its not something thats far in the past, Morales said. Dahlberg and Young want more of Benavides victims to come forward to have their cases reviewed. The sentences will be served at the same time. Benavides took the stand Thursday during the punishment phase of the trial. She has been excused from the trial and an alternate was put in her place. She remembers thinking, If I dont go along with this dude, hes going to screw me in other ways. On ExpressNews.com: Jury being picked to hear S.A. ex-lawyers sex case. juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. 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. 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. 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. Rodriguez argued that Benavides did not kill someone and should not be sent away for life. But I was thinking of freedom for my son, freedom for me. Compelling prostitution | ezavala @ express-news.net | @ elizabeth2863, Connect with the definitive source global! Judge Dick Alcala on Friday during the punishment phase of his trial in Floresville as he testified someone. Was Santera practice, but she was afraid her body missing from damaged. Left the courtroom last week did.. Read more of Benavides victims come! 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