Benavides admission of the DVDs' existencewas recorded at police headquarters in November 2015, when detectives interviewed him. He will serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. Benavides was convicted in 2018 for six counts of human trafficking for trading sex for legal services. Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role. He also writes a weekly Spurs newsletter. The jury found him guilty of crimes, not cheating.. 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. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. 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. juror fainted as the panel left the courtroom last week. Mark Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, appears in the Wilson County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 27, 2018, in Floresville, TX. Several of clients claimed that Benavides promised them he'd help them, and even get the cases thrown out altogether if they slept with him, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The two agencies, normally on opposing sides, are working together to ensure justice for the victims of disbarred lawyer Mark Henry Benavides, who was once a candidate for state district judge. 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. 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. 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. Rory Tingle For Dailymail.com 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. Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. A witness described the crime scene as a "horror move" in testimony. ', Norton said: 'They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion.'. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms. 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. 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. When she asked why he was filming, he said it was just for him, she told the court. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking in persons and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. 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. 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. Six months later, she was charged with driving under the influence, and she hired him to represent her. 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. On ExpressNews.com: Jury being picked to hear S.A. ex-lawyers sex case. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. Its an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton said. SAN ANTONIO -- The former lawyer convicted of exchanging legal services will be heading to prison after additional cases against him were dropped on Tuesday. Things changed the day she had a court appearance on her drug charge. 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 advances and later lost her license, her car, job and apartment. She said she wont ever be able to forget what Benavides did to her. Benavides was arrested in November 2015 and charged with compelling prostitution in cases involving at least nine female clients. On Tuesday, prosecutors in a Texas court played footage of Benavides forcing one such client to have anal sex with him, KSAT reported. 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. 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. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. And so, I think its hard to know how many women out there were subjected to this kind of undue influence, Young said. 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. When she pushed back, he was true to his word. Jacob's Well in Hill Country closed 'for foreseeable future', Dogs in fatal mauling linked to previous S.A. attacks. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. The woman pleaded guilty to misdemeanor possession of marijuana. In the end, she had to hire another lawyer, because Benavides was behind bars by the time her case came up. During the trial,San Antonio Police Department Detective Manual Morales testified that police found a filing cabinet at Benavides' home containing 246 of what the detective called "pornographic DVDs" that showed Benavides having sex with women who police said were Benavides' clients. 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. I felt young and dumb and powerless. Before Benavides was taken away, the judge increased his bail to $150,000 on each of the remaining four cases pending against him. Earlier, his wife told the jury deciding his punishment to be fair because he does not deserve this.. Her parents, Abdulah Fahmi Kala Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Sabah Al Hishmawi, 33, were arrested on Friday, March 23, 2018. He wanted to meet up.. Benavides attorneys declined to comment on the verdict or sentencing. More: Urestis wife files for divorce following salacious trial. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt, she said. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. He is now treatable.. Each case will be tried separately. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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.. Several additional indictments have been added since. By Mark Benavides, a powerful Democrat who ran for the 186th District Court in 2014 during the Obama administration, was accused by federal law enforcement of trading his legal services as an attorney for sex with . During the trial, some of the graphic and sexually explicit encounters were played for the jury. She told Benavides she did not want to have sex with him, but he still made me, she said. He lied to you, sitting here. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. Linda Benavides, Marks wife, testified on Friday morning and asked the jury to please be fair.. Mark Henry Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons for having sex with clients he represented on prostitution or drug cases. His kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. 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. Former San Antonio attorney Mark Benvides sits in the 186th District Court in this March 23, 2017, photo. The trial against former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides began Tuesday with a graphic start. He is now treatable.. Follow KSAT's Twitter Moment below for the latest updates on the trial. 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. 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. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. Read more of her stories here. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863. 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. It was a case that rattled San Antonio. She said they would go to a motel in San Antonio, where he told her what to do sexually while recording the encounter. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. Misael started at KSAT-TV as a photojournalist in 1987. Her testimony came a day after Benavides took the stand. The woman said a friend referred her to Benavides in 2008 for legal representation. 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. 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. Prosecutors said Benavides traded sex for legal services. Mark married Olivia Perez on month day 2001, at age 30 at marriage place, Texas. 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. Joaquin Castro diagnosed with cancer, 'Spreading the love': Buc-ee's begins plans for world domination, Massive pirate-themed San Antonio park delays opening date, TX DPS duped into shipping at least 3,000 Texas drivers license, Spoon, Billy Currington, and more set for New Braunfels shows, Jury deadlocks in murder case involving San Antonio man whose remains were grilled, San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged, Details emerge in murder-suicide involving, Suspect in death of Trinity University cheerleader arrested on charges of murder, sexual assault, S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. Much, she told Benavides mark benavides wife did not want to have sex him! 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