SAN ANTONIO – The trial of San Antonio attorney Mark Benavides, which was scheduled to begin in two weeks, has been re-set for March 26, 2018.
Judge Dick Alcala granted the change after Benavides’ attorney explained that her co-counsel had developed serious medical issues.
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Benavides is accused of having sex with female clients and making video recordings of those encounters. He is facing six counts of human trafficking.
“It’s putting on six cases, kind of, within one,” prosecutor Meredith Chacon explained. “So we have six victims we have to put on and all of the attendant evidence that goes on with those cases.”
That evidence includes the video recordings.
The punishment range on each count is from 25 to 99 years to life in prison.
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Chacon said that they will ask the Alcala to “stack” the sentences, which means that they would run consecutively.
The trial next spring will not be the end of Benavides’ legal troubles.
Chacon explained that there are still indictments pending in separate cases involving sexual assault of a child, sexual assault and compelling prostitution. The trial will be held in Floresville, where it was moved on a change of venue requested by Benavides’ attorney.
