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. She said she wont ever be able to forget what Benavides did to her. His kids love him so much,' she told the jury while crying. More: Death penalty testimony paints violent portrait of officers killer. Early life. 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It's an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton replied. Its not fair for them to live in any kind of guilt. Uresti conviction: Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti was convicted on all 11 counts in his five-week criminal fraud trial ending Feb. 22, 2018. 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 kids love him so much, she told the jury through tears. He ran for judge and he used that as part of his operation, his judicial candidacy, as coercion, Young said. 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. Share your thoughts with us in the comments below. 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Required fields are marked *. He will serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole. 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. Animal sacrifice unveiled at San Antonio home: Jurors were shown a video recorded by one of Benavides alleged victims showing a violent sexual . He faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. 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. As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed I love you to his wife. Mark W Benavides, born Circa 1969 Each case is expected to be tried separately. Mark A. Cantu, III v. Commission for Lawyer Discipline . Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege told the jury. Please be fair. 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. More: Urestis alleged ex-mistress admits to relationship with his business partner. So far, two women represented by Benavides have had their convictions overturned and their records expunged. Linda Benavides said that although he was unfaithful, she didn't leave her husband of nearly 11 years after his arrest because she supports him. Marvin Pfeiffer /For the San Antonio Express-News. 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. Menchaca was allegedly beaten with baseball bats, dismembered and grilled on a barbecue pit in 2014. Copyright 2018 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Mark Henry Benavides was immediately taken into custody Tuesday night in Floresville, where the trial was heard. Each case will be tried separately. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. The trial against former San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides began Tuesday with a graphic start. 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. A witness described the crime scene as a "horror move" in testimony. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong, Steege said. I knew he was serious. Benavides faces up to 99 years or life in prison. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced. Personal Life, Parents and Family Details : Mark was born on October 1st, 1969. Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role. More: S.A. teen who refused arranged marriage suffered 6 months of beatings, search warrant shows. More: San Antonio woman gunned down by estranged relativedies two weeks after shooting. 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. 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. I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man, he said. Under cross-examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. At first, Benavides would text or call her when he was lonely or bored, she said. 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. But he's a good person. Under cross examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. More: S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? 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 A former San Antonio attorney has been. 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. Benavides told her she had to plead guilty to stay out of prison. 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. Its an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act, Norton said. Uresti divorce: A week after state Sen. Carlos Urestis conviction in a salacious trial that included vivid testimony about him carrying on an extramarital relationship, his wife filed for divorce. 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. The latest indictment is the fifth open case against Benavides. Defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero said Benavides admitted he lost his moral compass, and although he deserves to be punished, she asked for mercy. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. Its not something thats far in the past, Morales said. }] There are 30+ professionals named "Mark Benavides", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. He is a calculating and manipulating liar, she told the jury. At the time of Mark's court proceedings, Linda requested the jury to "please be fair as his kids love him so much." 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. 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. 'To me, it's cheating,' Benavides replied. I started caring for him as a person because I didnt have anybody at the time. When questioned by prosecutor Jay Norton about whether she thought her husband had committed a crime she replied: 'I am not aware of what has happened, except what I heard on the news. RELATED:Expert: Guilty ex-S.A. attorney displayed arousal to violent sex. Mott died Aug. 8, 2015 and was to be cremated Aug. 15, 2015. 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. Your email address will not be published. Just this month, Benavides was indicted again for continuous trafficking of persons in connection with alleged incidents with four of the women from 2012 to 2015. 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. 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." She was granted probation and successfully completed it. Benavides was convicted in 2018 for six counts of human trafficking for trading sex for legal services. S.A. animal sacrifice was Santera practice, but was it illegal? She has worked at five daily newspapers in Texas, including The Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Denton Record-Chronicle. 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. Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved. Read more of her stories here. But hes a good person. Six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases testified he coerced. Mark Benavides, 48, is charged with continuous trafficking of persons, accused of having sex with clients in prostitution cases in exchange for legal services. We know there are women that that did not want to talk. 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. More: Couple get $8 million for loss of daughters body from San Antonio funeral home. Benavides took the stand Thursday during the punishment phase of the trial. Benavides forced six women he had represented in prostitution or drug cases to have sex with him in return for legal help. Apparently, this has been going on for virtually his entire legal career, here. Calling him a master manipulator and liar, prosecutors had asked the jury to send Benavides to life in prison for having sex with clients in exchange for legal services. If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Misael started at KSAT-TV as a photojournalist in 1987. July 20, 2020As many as 500 women who were represented by a disgraced, now-imprisoned San Antonio attorney could have their convictions overturned as Bexar County prosecutors review their cases with the help of the public defenders office. Detectives recovered 246 mini DVDs containing hundreds of videos in which he was seen directing the women during often violent sex. Benavides is being tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County because of intense media coverage. "I'm so sorry. Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News. What I saw yesterday (in Benavides testimony) was a totally different man. "Theres others out there, I know. Benavides' wife of 11 years, Linda, appeared at the trial's sentencing phase to urge the jury to 'please be fair' as she announced she was staying with him, reported Express News. More: Jury deadlocks in murder case involving San Antonio man whose remains were grilled. I felt young and dumb and powerless. 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. He paid more attention, we spent a lot more time with the kids, Benavides said. 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