Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Benavides was convicted. Please be fair. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Please be fair. Mark Howerton, the victims boyfriend of four weeks, was jailed on Feb. 28, 2018, facing charges of murder and sexual assault. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. 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. More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. You can see RJ regularly on KSAT Explains and Good Morning San Antonio. Manage Settings I am not aware of what has happened, except what I heard on the news, she said. Fundraiser honors San Marcos child who was struck, killed CPS Energy sells circular Villita Assembly Building. According to court documents, the district attorney's office cited insufficient evidence in dropping the charges. Before Benavides was taken away, the judge increased his bail to $150,000 on each of the remaining four cases pending against him. One after another, she lost her drivers license, her car, her job, her apartment. More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. Mark Henry Benavides was immediately taken into custody Tuesday night in Floresville, where the trial was heard. 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. He is now treatable.. Benavides attorneys declined to comment on the verdict or sentencing. 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. Paul Venema (@PaulVenema12) March 27 . 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. RELATED: New Braunfels man with history of 'deviant' sex acts with vegetables sentenced to life in prison. More: Death penalty testimony paints violent portrait of officers killer. Linda Benavides testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of her husband, Mark Benavides, in Floresville. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. Lopez was found guilty of the murder by the jury on June 5, 2018 and struggled against deputies moments after being convicted of the 2014 killing of Menchaca. When she had to see him, she would bring her mother along. 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. He wouldnt help me for anything, she said. 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. 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. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms. On ExpressNews.com: Jury being picked to hear S.A. ex-lawyers sex case. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. It dragged on for nearly four years. 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. Shes pleased that the conviction is now off her record, thanks to the DAs and public defenders offices. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. I felt young and dumb and powerless. 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. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. 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. Mark Steege, a sex therapist, testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of Mark Benavides in Floresville. But he's a good person. Bendavid played the role of Barbara Hershey's character's son Dominic Blythe in Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege told the jury. 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. Her testimony came a day after Benavides took the stand. This is a carousel. 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. 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. May 25, 2022 . S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? Each case is expected to be tried separately. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. More: Urestis wife files for divorce following salacious trial. A witness described the crime scene as a "horror move" in testimony. A now 51-year-old woman was arrested in 2013 on a DWI charge and hired Mark Benavides as her attorney. Earlier, his wife told the jury deciding his punishment to be fair because he does not deserve this.. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. The jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m. 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. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex, Author says stakes are high in Alamo makeover project. The case was later dismissed for a lack of evidence and Elkhaliny was set to be released from county jail without having to pay bail. ', Norton said: 'They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion.'. View the profiles of professionals named "Mark Benavides" on LinkedIn. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. SAN ANTONIO -- The former lawyer convicted of exchanging legal services will be heading to prison after additional cases against him were dropped on Tuesday. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. She said she rejected his overtures. Early life. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Prosecutors said Benavides traded sex for legal services. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. She is heard stating, Mark, it hurts! ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. 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. Its something that is very present for them.. 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.. After the judge ruled the evidence was insufficient, the victims mother collapsed in the courtroom. When she asked why he was filming, he said it was just for him, she told the court. July 20, 2020As many as 500 women who were represented by a disgraced, now-imprisoned San Antonio attorney could have their convictions overturned as Bexar County prosecutors review their cases with the help of the public defenders office. Benavides attorneys declined to comment on the verdict or sentencing. The women said the alleged encounters took place at his law office, motels, his car and the courthouse, according to the affidavit. Officials said the women were. The trial against former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides began Tuesday with a graphic start. He still faces a possible charge for aggravated assault with severe bodily injury. Former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides is serving 80 years in prison for forcing former clients into having 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. Under questioning by defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. Who does that? she asked. His kids love him so much,' she told the jury while crying. 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. He threatened that if they did not, he would withhold legal services, sabotage their cases and make sure they went to prison. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Benavides was found guilty Tuesday on six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. She had been a passenger in a car when police found marijuana during a traffic stop and no one claimed it. 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. One of thevideos was so graphic that a female juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. 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. Linda Benavides (front), who is the wife of Mark Benavides, and his mother, Olga Benavides, are emotional after he was given 80 years after being convicted for continuous trafficking of persons on Friday. 'To me, it's cheating,' Benavides replied. 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. He wasnt playing around. Steege said he had not. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. 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. But he's a good person. 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. Each case will be tried separately. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced. "I'm so sorry. Since then, he has been named in multiple-count indictments. 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. 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. Man cleared in River Walk death: A judge issued a ruling Thursday, March 8, 2018, that prevented a manslaughter trial of Mark Daniel Lewis (left), accused of causing transgender woman Kenne McFadden to drown along the River Walk last year. In the end, she had to hire another lawyer, because Benavides was behind bars by the time her case came up. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. So, I did.. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Fridays ruling came amid a highly publicized trial that had to be moved to Floresville at the request of Benavides attorneys, who claimed that the case received too much publicity in San Antonio for him to get a fair trial. "I'm asking you to have mercy and give me the minimum," Benavides said while crying. Texas chain with San Antonio bakeries files for bankruptcy, How a viral chicken fried steak briefly closed down Mr. Juicy, Puerto Rican restaurant finds new life in former Rosario's spot, Report: San Antonio Rep. 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