Criminal Justice
Indictment claims criminal defense lawyer coerced sex with nine court-appointed clients
A San Antonio criminal defense lawyer previously accused of trading sex for legal work was indicted on Wednesday on 18 counts of sexual assault and 17 counts of compelling prostitution.
The indictments of lawyer Mark Benavides lists nine alleged victims, report Texas Lawyer (sub. req.) and KSAT. He was originally accused of pressuring three clients to have sex with him in exchange for legal work.
All the alleged victims were clients whom Benavides represented as a court-appointed lawyer, Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood told Texas Lawyer.
The charges in the indictment are all second-degree felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
