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. He said he would help me get my son back, the woman told the court. 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. A 51-year-old victim of now-disbarred Mark Benavides goes through paperwork at her San Antonio home on June 18, 2020. Mark Henry Benavides will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. 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. Investigators seized 246 mini DVDs that contained hundreds of videos of Benavides and the former clients engaged in various sex acts, in which he could be heard directing the women and telling them what to do and say. 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. Another victim, now 51, was arrested in 2013 for DWI. 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. It was creepy, throwing advances like that, and he wants me to put out for him to help me. He would require her to say bye at the end to the camera. Mark Benavides, 48, is charged with continuous trafficking of persons, accused of having sex with clients in prostitution cases in exchange for legal services. The case was tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding. Earlier, his wife told the jury deciding his punishment to be fair because he does not deserve this.. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison on each of the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons against him. You can see RJ regularly on KSAT Explains and Good Morning San Antonio. When I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. 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 . Benavides filmed videos of the violent sexual encounters, one of which was so graphic that a female juror fainted after viewing it in court. Marisol Morales is a case manager with the Bexar County Public Defender's Office working with victims of now-disbarred attorney Mark Benavides. She is heard stating, Mark, it hurts! More: Uresti, Cain found guilty on all charges in end to salacious month-long fraud trial. Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. He also covers the Spurs for on-air and digital platforms. the woman, 29, cried on the video. The jury found him guilty of crimes, not cheating.. In this2018 file photo he sits in Judge Dick Alcalas courtroom to address his other pending. Mark is married to his wife, Linda Benavides, and they have two kids together. His sentences will run concurrently, and he will be eligible for parole in 30 years. They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion, Norton said. 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. But I was thinking of freedom for my son, freedom for me. 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. He is facing up to 99 years in prison. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt. I knew he was serious. The video caused one juror to faint, according to the Express News. 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. And so, I think its hard to know how many women out there were subjected to this kind of undue influence, Young said. I felt young and dumb and powerless. Mark Henry Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons for having sex with clients he represented on prostitution or drug cases. Benavides is accused of having sex with his clients in exchange for legal services. Read more of her stories here. A witness described the crime scene as a "horror move" in testimony. In this2018 file photo he sits in Judge Dick Alcalas courtroom to address his other pending pending cases. Woman held captive in Stone Oak home: What started as a theft investigation quickly became a violent sex assault case. More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. The 48-year-old former attorney is accused of continuous human trafficking and having sex with clients in prostitution cases in return for legal services. Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about forced sex, not just about legal services.. 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. 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. I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep, Norton told Steege. Benavides was arrested in November 2015 and charged with compelling prostitution in cases involving at least nine female clients. Benavides is being tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County because of intense media coverage. Michelle Fair Hilliker, seated at center, consoles a victim testifying in the Mark Benavides trial. Youre hurting me. Benavides was sentenced to 80 years in prison. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. In her closing argument, defense attorney Liza Rodriguez said Benavides is not the person jurors saw only in the snippets of video the state put together for them to watch. SAN ANTONIO Former attorney Mark Benavides has been sentenced to 80 years for six counts of continuing trafficking of persons. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. Its an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton said. I started caring for him as a person because I didnt have anybody at the time. Marisol Morales, a case manager at the Public Defenders Office, has been working with the two women and others Benavides abused. } View Non-AMP Version Copyright 2017 JDJOURNAL, Disbarred San Antonio Attorney Mark Benavides Trial Delayed, San Antonio Lawyer Compelled Clients for Sex, Woman Says She Traded Sex for Legal Services, Disney Star, Caroline Sunshine, Joins White House as a Press Assistant , East Palestine Train Derailment Draws Lawyers: Information Sessions and Client Sign-Ups Increase, Prosecutors Highlight Ex-Lawyer Murdaughs Financial Misdeeds and Inconsistencies in Murder Trial Cross-Examination, Consovoys Boutique Law Firm Returns to Supreme Court in Student Loan Lawsuit. 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. "I'm asking you to have mercy and give me the minimum," Benavides said while crying. Follow KSAT's Twitter Moment below for the latest updates on the trial. He did. 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. I felt like he wasnt even trying to help me anymore, but I already had given him $3,000 and I couldnt afford another lawyer, she said. Please be fair. In a video played in court that only the jury could see, the woman could be heard crying, Mark, it hurts! During the trial, some of the graphic and sexually explicit encounters were played for the jury. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did. The cases stretch back to 2000. Benavides will serve 80 years for each count but the time will. Personal Life, Parents and Family Details : Your email address will not be published. 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. RELATED:Expert: Guilty ex-S.A. attorney displayed arousal to violent sex. A former San Antonio attorney has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for forcing his clients to have sex with him in return for legal services. She hired attorney Mark Benavides, who she said began demanding sex, threatening that if she didn't "play with him" he would ensure she and her son, who had an unrelated case in another court, would be send to prison. He is now treatable.. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced. Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role. As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. Early life. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. 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. }] Everyone in the car was charged with drug possession. Salacious Uresti testimony: Denise Cantu, a Harlingen woman whom Uresti helped obtain a $2.5 million legal settlement over the deaths of two of her children in a 2010 vehicle wreck, told jurors that the lawmaker became her financial adviser, confidante, friend and eventually lover. She said they'd first had sex in July 2014 - on the same day that he was appointed by the court to work as her attorney. The jurors were so shocked by the clip that the judge sent them out for a break. There would be threats by Benavides to the women that If you dont plea, Im going to make sure you go to jail., Ex-SA lawyer Mark Benavides takes stand during sentencing phase of sex crimes trial. Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. There are 30+ professionals named "Mark Benavides", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced. He was in the wrong no matter what people did.. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. But hes a good person. The jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m. Mott died Aug. 8, 2015 and was to be cremated Aug. 15, 2015. 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. Jacob's Well in Hill Country closed 'for foreseeable future', Dogs in fatal mauling linked to previous S.A. attacks. 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. As the jurors were exiting the courtroom, one juror fainted. RJ Marquez has been at KSAT since 2010. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. Benavides, a former San Antonio lawyer, was convicted Tuesday of trafficking in persons and having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. It dragged on for nearly four years. Benavides is accused of having sex with his clients in exchange for legal services. On ExpressNews.com: Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex. 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. The San Antonio attorney is accused of coercing clients into having sex with him in exchange for money or legal services. She later was excused and an alternate was seated. He transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. 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. 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. Manage Settings Boshoy Mina Elkhaliny, was arrested on Jan. 8, 2018 for allegedly beating, raping and holding Kaila Kutzik captive for days. One after another, she lost her drivers license, her car, her job, her apartment. 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. Six months later, she was charged with driving under the influence, and she hired him to represent her. Benavides was found guilty Tuesday on six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. Earlier, his wife told the jury deciding his punishment to be fair because he does not deserve this.. Officials have not mentioned Santera, but those arrested were reportedly practitioners of that religion. | 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. By Under questioning by Guerrero, Benavides said her husbands demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015. Steege said he had not. 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. Marisol Morales is a licensed counselor with the Bexar County Public Defenders Office and may be reached at 210-335-0701. He cheated. 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. 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. When he started throwing my son in there, I started taking him serious He started to get aggressive. Her parents, Abdulah Fahmi Kala Al Hishmawi, 34, and Hamdiyah Sabah Al Hishmawi, 33, were arrested on Friday, March 23, 2018. I'm unaware, other than what's on the news.. 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. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. Officials said the women were extorted by Benavides to take plea deals for crimes they didnt commit. Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: Rory Tingle For Dailymail.com 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. 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. 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