Benavides will have to serve 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. In halting sobs, Benavidesapologized and asked for forgiveness as he testified. When you drill down deeper and what weve seen in the cases, its actually extortion, said lead Bexar County Public Defender Michael Young. View the profiles of professionals named "Mark Benavides" on LinkedIn. The juror was replaced by an alternate. You can see RJ regularly on KSAT Explains and Good Morning San Antonio. He would require her to say bye at the end to the camera. Apparently, this has been going on for virtually his entire legal career, here. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing trafficking of persons. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege said. I felt young and dumb and powerless. She said Benavides flirted with her and offered to help her incarcerated son. But he's a good person. She was later excused and replaced with an alternate. 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. So, I did.. Mark Steege, a sex therapist, testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of Mark Benavides in Floresville. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. Linda Benavides testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of her husband, Mark Benavides, in Floresville. Read more of her stories here. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. 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. Several additional indictments have been added since. More: 'A classic sociopath: Abused victims of Stone Oak playboy speak out after years of violence. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. scott van pelt wife age. He would tell her what to do and what sexual positions he wanted her in, using a handheld video recorder to film the acts from start to finish. The woman said a friend referred her to Benavides in 2008 for legal representation. 14:01 GMT 07 Apr 2018 Benavides, 50, was convicted in 2018 of six counts of human trafficking and coercing his clients to have sex with him. This was someone within our legal community, Dahlberg said. Under cross-examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. Benavides texted and called her, describing in explicit terms the sex acts he wanted her to perform. Mark Henry Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons for having sex with clients he represented on prostitution or drug cases. His sentences will run concurrently, and he will be eligible for parole in 30 years. Benavides accusers testified during the first phase of the trial that Benavides would take them to a motel and record videos of those encounters. Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. There are 30+ professionals named "Mark Benavides", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. He is now treatable.. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. Copyright 2018 by KSAT - All rights reserved. We are asking you for 25 years, she said. 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. Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex, Author says stakes are high in Alamo makeover project. She said Benavides told her to say 'bye' to the camera after they finished. Mark married Crystal A Valdez on month day 2009, at age 28 at marriage place, Texas. Benavides gave her his card. 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. In this2018 file photo he sits in Judge Dick Alcalas courtroom to address his other pending. The sentences will be served at the same time. the woman, 29, cried on the video. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. attorney mark benavides wife. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. Michelle Fair Hilliker, seated at center, consoles a victim testifying in the Mark Benavides trial. The punishment phase is expected to begin at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Wilson County District Court in Floresville. Former attorney Mark Benavides was in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing. But hes a good person. 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. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Linda Benavides, wife of ex-SA attorney Mark Benavides, asks jury to please be fair. Defense expert Mark Steege, a sex therapist who testified he has treated hundreds of sex offenders in 35 years, said he evaluated Mark Benavides in April 2017. But he's a good person. On ExpressNews.com: Four pending sex cases against convicted ex-San Antonio attorney dismissed. When he started throwing my son in there, I started taking him serious He started to get aggressive. 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. 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 lied to you, sitting 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 was arrested in November 2015 while he was running for Bexar County District judge, and was indicted in April 2016. Mark Benavides was scheduled to appear . 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. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Manage Settings He wouldnt help me for anything, she said. , updated When she had to see him, she would bring her mother along. 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. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. Officials said the women were. 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. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Benavideswill get credit for the days he has already served. Reyes survived for two weeks before being pronounced dead. Former San Antonio attorney Mark Benvides sits in the 186th District Court in this March 23, 2017, photo. More: Jury find woman who killed nephew guilty of murder, Ronald Cortes, for the San Antonio Express News, Marvin Pfeiffer, Staff / San Antonio Express-News, More: Jury'sguilty verdict sends convicted killer into frenzy in San Antonio courtroom, William Luther, Staff / San Antonio Express-News, psychologist at upscale apartment complex near downtown, Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. 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. 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. Who does that? she asked. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. ', Norton said: 'They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion.'. 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. 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 Express-News generally does not identify victims of sexual assault. Rodriguez MARVIN PFEIFFER/mpfeiffer@express-news.net, Marvin Pfeiffer, Staff / San Antonio Express-News, More: Jury find woman who killed nephew guilty of murder, Ronald Cortes, for the San Antonio Express News, More: Jury'sguilty verdict sends convicted killer into frenzy in San Antonio courtroom, William Luther, Staff / San Antonio Express-News, psychologist at upscale apartment complex near downtown, Kin Man Hui, Staff / San Antonio Express-News, 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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More: Jury deadlocks in murder case involving San Antonio man whose remains were grilled. When I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. Steege said he saw a dramatic change in Benavides, from arrogant and entitled when they first met, to humble and treatable. Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. The trial started last week and included testimony from all six accusers. Please be fair. He is a calculating and manipulating liar, she told the jury. 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. Benavides admission of the DVDs' existencewas recorded at police headquarters in November 2015, when detectives interviewed him. Its the reason she agreed to speak out about what happened, despite her continuing fear of Benavides. 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