Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex

Linda Benavides, who is the wife of Mark Benavides, receives his belt and necktie Friday from a sheriff’s deputy after he was sentenced to 80 years as punishment after being convicted for continuous trafficking of persons. less Linda Benavides, who is the wife of Mark Benavides, receives his belt and necktie Friday from a sheriff’s deputy after he was sentenced to 80 years as punishment after being convicted for continuous ... more Photo: Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News Photo: Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 44 Caption Close Benavides sentenced to 80 years for coercing clients into having sex 1 / 44 Back to Gallery

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.

Mark Henry Benavides will have to serve at least 30 years before he is eligible for parole.

It took the panel about six hours to decide on the sentences for the six counts of continuous trafficking of persons. The sentences will be served at the same time.

Before Benavides was taken away, the judge increased his bail to $150,000 on each of the remaining four cases pending against him. The former attorney faces two charges of sexual assault of a child, one charge of sexual assault and another charge of continuous trafficking of persons, according to court records. Each case is expected to be tried separately.

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As he walked out, Benavides, 48, glanced at his parents and mouthed “I love you” to his wife.

Benavides’ attorneys declined to comment on the verdict or sentencing.

Prosecutor Jay Norton said this case was about “forced sex, not just about legal services.”

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.

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.

“This is human trafficking,” Chacon said. “He transported, coerced, threatened and made them feel they had no choice. This jury understood that.”

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Benavides was convicted Tuesday of continuous trafficking of persons and faces 25 to 99 years or life in prison. 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.

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.

“It’s worth life, ladies and gentlemen,” Chacon said in her closing argument.

“He is a calculating and manipulating liar,” she told the jury. “He lied to you, sitting here. He said he made amends to his family, and what does his wife tell you? ‘I'm unaware, other than what's on the news.’”

Norton told the jury that this wasn’t Benavides’ trial alone, that it was shared with “every single person who took the stand” and told their stories.

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’s a son, husband, father,” she said.

Rodriguez argued that Benavides did not kill someone and should not be sent away for life.

Defense attorney Monica E. Guerrero said Benavides admitted he “lost his moral compass,” and although he deserves to be punished, she asked for mercy.

“We are asking you for 25 years,” she said.

Earlier, his wife told the jury deciding his punishment to be fair because “he does not deserve this.”

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.

“He cheated. He did. But he's a good person. Please be fair. His kids love him so much,” she told the jury through tears.

Under questioning by Guerrero, Benavides said her husband’s demeanor changed after his arrest in 2015.

“He paid more attention; we spent a lot more time with the kids,” she told the court.

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.”

“They found him guilty of force, fraud and coercion,” Norton said.

“To me, it’s cheating,” Benavides said.

“It's an understatement to call it cheating if its a criminal act,” Norton replied. “The jury found him guilty of crimes, not cheating.”

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 I saw him first, he was arrogant and untreatable. He was so resistant to the idea he had done anything wrong,” Steege said. “What I saw yesterday (in Benavides’ testimony) was a totally different man. He is now treatable.”

Under cross-examination, Norton asked Steege whether he reviewed police reports and videos Benavides took of sexual encounters with his clients. Steege said he had not.

When Norton asked if he saw a change in Benavides from his testimony, Steege said he did.

“I saw a humbled man rather than an arrogant man,” he said.

“I looked at you three times, sir, and you were asleep,” Norton told Steege.

The jury entered deliberations at 1:18 p.m.

The case was tried in Wilson County on a change of venue from Bexar County, with Senior District Judge Dick Alcala presiding.