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. 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. S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. 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Manage Settings I started caring for him as a person because I didnt have anybody at the time. Anyone who feels they were forced to take a plea deal by Benavides is urged to contact the Bexar County Public Defenders Office at 210-504-6216. Benavides is accused of having sex with his clients in exchange for legal services. 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. The evidence against Benavides included portions of 246 videos the lawyer recorded of himself having sex with his clients. Benavides faces up to 99 years or life in prison. One of thevideos was so graphic that a female juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. Before Benavides was taken away, the judge increased his bail to $150,000 on each of the remaining four cases pending against him. More: Man accused in death of trans woman wont face trial. The juror was replaced by an alternate. Steege said he saw a dramatic change in Benavides, from arrogant and entitled when they first met, to humble and treatable. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. Mark married Crystal A Valdez on month day 2009, at age 28 at marriage place, Texas. Michelle Fair Hilliker, seated at center, consoles a victim testifying in the Mark Benavides trial. When I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. More: San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged relativedies two weeks after shooting. Personal Life, Parents and Family Details : Mark was born on October 1st, 1969. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt, she said. 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.. It was creepy, throwing advances like that, and he wants me to put out for him to help me. But he's a good person. 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. Detectives recovered 246 mini DVDs containing hundreds of videos in which he was seen directing the women during often violent sex. She said Benavides told her to say 'bye' to the camera after they finished. 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. 07:32 GMT 08 Apr 2018. Each case is expected to be tried separately. Former San Antonio attorney Mark Benvides sits in the 186th District Court in this March 23, 2017, photo. The cases stretch back to 2000. Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex, Author says stakes are high in Alamo makeover project. Bendavid was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to a Belgian-born mother and a Moroccan-Jewish father. "I'm so sorry. He did. Steege said he had not. 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. In this2018 file photo he sits in Judge Dick Alcalas courtroom to address his other pending pending cases. More: 'A classic sociopath: Abused victims of Stone Oak playboy speak out after years of violence. He is facing up to 99 years in prison. View the profiles of professionals named "Mark Benavides" on LinkedIn. 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." "I'm asking you to have mercy and give me the minimum," Benavides said while crying. 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. Each case will 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. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. Women who employed him as their lawyer in prostitution cases told police that Benavides coerced them into having sex to help lessen their legal problems or to get their cases dismissed, an arrest warrant affidavit filed before the original indictments states. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. She was arrested in 2013 for DWI; he insisted she plead guilty even though she said she was innocent. More: Man accused in death of trans woman wont face trial. 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. The jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m. What I saw yesterday (Benavides testimony), was a totally different man. The next day, employees discovered her body missing from a damaged casket. 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. He faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. 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. 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.. The woman who had been charged with drug possession encouraged victims to make that call. In this2018 file photo he sits in Judge Dick Alcalas courtroom to address his other pending. When she had to see him, she would bring her mother along. He transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. Benavides wife, Linda, took the stand on Friday and asked the jury to please be fair.. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. It dragged on for nearly four years. The case was tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. Read more of her stories here. They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion, Norton said. On ExpressNews.com: Jury being picked to hear S.A. ex-lawyers sex case. Its not something thats far in the past, Morales said. He ran for judge and he used that as part of his operation, his judicial candidacy, as coercion, Young said. During the trial, some of the graphic and sexually explicit encounters were played for the jury. Its something that is very present for them.. 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. She said she knew Benavides cheated, but said the couple have two children and she still supported him. Six months later, she was charged with driving under the influence, and she hired him to represent her. The jurors were so shocked by the clip that the judge sent them out for a break. Former attorney Mark Benavides was in court Thursday for a pretrial hearing. By The case is being heard at the Wilson County under a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. the woman, 29, cried on the video. He said he would help me get my son back, the woman told the court. This is a carousel. The woman said that, eventually, Benavides stopped talking to her about her drug case except to urge her to plead guilty. In the end, she had to hire another lawyer, because Benavides was behind bars by the time her case came up. 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. 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. S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? Dismemberment trial: The murder trial of Gabriel Moreno, accused of killing Jose Luis Menchaca, began on Feb. 26, 2018. This is human trafficking, Chacon said. I felt like he was coming on to me, and I didnt like it.. He would require her to say bye at the end to the camera. He said he made amends to his family, and what does his wife tell you? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. San Antonio teen beating: A San Antonio 16-year-old who refused an arranged marriage endured six months of beatings at the hands of her parents before running away from her San Antonio home, according to court documents. 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. Several women also testified that they would also have sex with Benavides in backrooms at the courthouse. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. It was important for us to correct a wrong from someone in our bar.. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. He is now treatable.. The sentences will be served at the same time. Mark Steege, a sex therapist, testifies Friday during the punishment phase of the trial of Mark Benavides in Floresville. 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. 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. I'm unaware, other than what's on the news.. He cheated. juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. High in Alamo makeover project ' to the camera even though she said she knew Benavides cheated, was... That the judge increased his bail to $ 150,000 on each of trial! 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