mark benavides wife

mark benavides wife

A recent review off the case showed the arrest wasn't supported by evidence and her conviction has been overturned based on Benavides' ineffectual counsel. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. 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. 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. 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. It was important for us to correct a wrong from someone in our bar.. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. To read more from Elizabeth, become a subscriber. Please be fair. It took the panel about six hours to decide on the sentences for the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. Linda Benavides testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of her husband, Mark Benavides, in Floresville. Read more of her stories here. 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. Benavides is facing a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison on each count. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison on each of the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons against him. Mark Steege, a sex therapist, testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of Mark Benavides in Floresville. He attended Unionville High School and was subsequently accepted into National Theatre School of Canada, graduating in 2004.. Career. } {"duration": "400ms","fill": "both","iterations": "1","direction": "alternate","animations": [{"selector": "#scrollToTopButton","keyframes": [{"opacity": "0","visibility": "hidden" | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863. Its an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton said. But he's a good person. According to court documents, the district attorney's office cited insufficient evidence in dropping the charges. Her conviction has been overturned based on his ineffectual counsel. As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. Its something that is very present for them.. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. Each case is expected to be tried separately. "" 11-23; 09-29; 09-29; 2021 09-17 "" . Everyone in the car was charged with drug possession. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863, Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex, Man dies following hit-and-run on San Antonio's Westside, Canyon Lake animal shelter faces claims of neglect, abuse. Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. By It was creepy, throwing advances like that, and he wants me to put out for him to help me. Steege said he had not. 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. "Theres others out there, I know. Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. Benavides told her she had to plead guilty to stay out of prison. A 32-year-old woman victimized by a San Antonio attorney said she was 20 when she was arrested on a marijuana possession charge as a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I felt like he was coming on to me, and I didnt like it.. Mark Henry Benavides will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. Under questioning by Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. Officials said the women were. When I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. The case is being heard at the Wilson County under a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking in persons and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. According to a criminal complaint, authorities alleged Mark Benavides pressured his victims everywhere from courtroom conference rooms to his office and hotels between 2009 and 2015. The trial started last week and included testimony from all six accusers. Its a very important function and a priority in our office, said District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales. 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." 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. Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: He cheated. It took the panel nearly four hours to find Benavides, 48, guilty on all six. 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. Several additional indictments have been added since. When she pushed back, he was true to his word. Who does that? she asked. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. Their accounts paint a harrowing picture of how the justice system went awry in their cases. 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. She told Benavides she did not want to have sex with him, but he still made me, she said. Officials said the women were extorted by Benavides to take plea deals for crimes they didnt commit. Steege said he had not. Marisol Morales, a case manager at the Public Defenders Office, has been working with the two women and others Benavides abused. When she asked why he was filming, he said it was just for him, she told the court. 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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. 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. More: Death penalty testimony paints violent portrait of officers killer. Prosecutors said Benavides traded sex for legal services. He wouldnt help me for anything, she said. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. }] Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. She was arrested in 2013 for DWI; he insisted she plead guilty even though she said she was innocent. Benavides is being tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County because of intense media coverage. More: Couple get $8 million for loss of daughters body from San Antonio funeral home. 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.. While questioning the woman under cross-examination, defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero tried to suggest that their interactions remained friendly after his initial arrest. A 51-year-old victim of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides pauses during an inteview at her San Antonio home on June 18, 2020. 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. So, I did.. Benavidesapologized Thursday and asked for forgiveness as he testified. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. 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. 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. He transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. The sexual encounters would take place in his law office, his car, at motels, or at the courthouse. 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. Shes pleased that the conviction is now off her record, thanks to the DAs and public defenders offices. She said she knew Benavides cheated, but said the couple have two children and she still supported him. When he started throwing my son in there, I started taking him serious He started to get aggressive. 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. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. I felt young and dumb and powerless. Linda Benavides, Marks wife, testified on Friday morning and asked the jury to please be fair.. Alison Dahlberg, director of the DAs Conviction Integrity Unit, has worked with Michael Young, chief defender for the Bexar County Public Defenders Office, to identify potentially hundreds of victims of Benavides and re-evaluate their criminal cases. He did. 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. Jurors were shown a video recorded by one of Benavides alleged victims showing a violent sexual . 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.. Its not something thats far in the past, Morales said. FLORESVILLE, Texas Closing arguments were set to begin Friday afternoon in the punishment phase of the trial for former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. 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. She told jurors Feb. 1, 2018, that she and Uresti would have sex in his law office. Benavides forced six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases to have sex with him in return for legal help. Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. Benavides has applied for probation. 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.. Reyes survived for two weeks before being pronounced dead. Benavides will serve 80 years for each count but the time will. Mark married Olivia Perez on month day 2001, at age 30 at marriage place, Texas. Read more of her stories here. And he did.. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. She has worked at five daily newspapers in Texas, including The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Denton Record-Chronicle. Manage Settings Benavides still faces two charges of sexual assault of a child, a charge of sexual assault and another charge of continuous trafficking of persons. 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. juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. 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. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. 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. 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. Benavides accusers testified during the first phase of the trial that Benavides would take them to a motel and record videos of those encounters. He will serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. 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. AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new. Benavides repeatedly ordered the woman to 'come back here' in the footage, while the woman pressed her hands against her face and sobbed. Mark A. Cantu, III v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline . Defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero said Benavides admitted he lost his moral compass, and although he deserves to be punished, she asked for mercy. 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. 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.. Summary: After watching a graphic video of a sexual encounter between a former San Antonio attorney and one of his victims, a juror passed out. Mark Henry Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons for having sex with clients he represented on prostitution or drug cases. Benavides took the stand Thursday during the punishment phase of the 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. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege said. The woman said a friend referred her to Benavides in 2008 for legal representation. He said he would help me get my son back.. S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? 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 video caused one juror to faint, according to the Express News. When she had to see him, she would bring her mother along. More: Couple get $8 million for loss of daughters body from San Antonio funeral home. The defense has already filed an appeal. This was someone within our legal community, Dahlberg said. 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.. Personal Life, Parents and Family Details : Your email address will not be published. Follow KSAT's Twitter Moment below for the latest updates on the trial. It's an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton replied. Mott died Aug. 8, 2015 and was to be cremated Aug. 15, 2015. Under cross examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. The jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m. More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. He ran for judge and he used that as part of his operation, his judicial candidacy, as coercion, Young said. He is a calculating and manipulating liar, she told the jury. Early life. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. 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. 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. Benavides was convicted. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. Do you think the charges should be lumped into one trial? She was granted probation and successfully completed it. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms. 'To me, it's cheating,' Benavides replied. We are asking you for 25 years, she said. He eventually started asking me for small stuff, meet up for lunch, stuff like that, the woman said. The woman said Benavides kept trying to meet with her after that episode, but she was afraid. The woman said that, eventually, Benavides stopped talking to her about her drug case except to urge her to plead guilty. Ex-SA lawyer's mother defends convicted son on witness stand. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. The sentences will be served at the same time. Before Benavides was taken away, the judge increased his bail to $150,000 on each of the remaining four cases pending against him. But why should I have to do that?. Someof the graphic and sexually explicit videos were played for jurors. Its worth life, ladies and gentlemen, Chacon said in her closing argument. Michelle Fair Hilliker, seated at center, consoles a victim testifying in the Mark Benavides trial. More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. He would require her to say bye at the end to the camera. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863. 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. San Antonio defense attorney Mark Benavides was running for a local judge's seat in 2015 when he was arrested and charged with coercing women to have sex with him as "payment" for his legal services. At first, Benavides would text or call her when he was lonely or bored, she said. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking in persons and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. He is now treatable.. Benavides was convicted in 2018 for six counts of human trafficking for trading sex for legal services. At first, I thought he was playing around, recalled the woman, now 51. He paid more attention; we spent a lot more time with the kids, she told the court. The victim in the video is a 29-year-old woman testifying for the state. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. He took me to a small room down a back hallway, and at that point he told me if I didnt perform a sexual act on him right then and there, he would not only kill my case, but try to worsen my case, she said, her voice trembling, even 12 years later. 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. The Express-News generally does not identify victims of sexual assault. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. 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. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex - San Antonio Express-News. A Wilson County jury found Benavides guilty on Tuesday. More: Jury deadlocks in murder case involving San Antonio man whose remains were grilled. 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. Personal Life, Parents and Family Details : Mark was born on October 1st, 1969. Defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero said Benavides admitted he lost his moral compass, and although he deserves to be punished, she asked for mercy. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. "I'm asking you to have mercy and give me the minimum," Benavides said while crying. He's covered a variety of stories and events across the San Antonio area, and is the lead reporter for KSAT Explains. 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. Dahlberg and Young want more of Benavides victims to come forward to have their cases reviewed. Heres what you need to know. Texas Democrat, Attorney Mark Benavides, has been found guilty on six counts of sex trafficking and torture by a judge in San Antonio. Bendavid was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to a Belgian-born mother and a Moroccan-Jewish father. He did. The victim identified Benavides as the man and also identified him in photographs by this tattoos, which are Asian writings on each of his forearms and a large image of the scales of justice down his back. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. Before Benavides was taken away, the judge increased his bail to $150,000 on each of the remaining four cases pending against him. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege told the jury. Mark Benavides (left) sits beside defense attorney Liza Rodriguez during his trial in the Wilson County District Court and Justice Center in Floresville on Thursday. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. 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. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing trafficking of persons. 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. 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. He paid more attention; we spent a lot more time with the kids, she told the court. 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.

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