Texas Pastor Indicted After Allegedly Raping A Special Needs Woman

The following report is by LMT Online:

Jorge Ariel Benavides, 59, was recently indicted on the charge of aggravated sexual assault of a person with special needs, a first degree felony. An evidence exchange hearing is set for May 17 before 49th District Court Judge Joe Lopez.

The case unraveled when Webb County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a late sexual assault report at about 4:30 p.m. March 2, 2022, at a home in the Santa Rita neighborhood in south Laredo.

A woman stated that Benavides had sexually assaulted her. She stated that Benavides picked her up the night of Feb. 1, 2022. She thought Benavides would take her to Las Lomas to show her some paperwork having to do with him adopting her, states the arrest affidavit.

The woman also believed that Benavides would pay her money he owed her. Once at a ranch in Las Lomas, Benavides told her they were going to “chill.” He then removed his clothing and told her to go into the room. Benavides then asked her to remove her clothing. She voluntarily removed her clothing because she feared Benavides, the affidavit states.

“When asked what suspect Benavides had done to cause her such fear, (the woman) stated she had been advised by suspect Benavides multiple times that she would be placed in a mental institution with the state because she is a consumer and no one would believe that a priest had raped her,” states the affidavit.

Benavides then sexually assaulted her. The woman did not fight back fearing that he would send her to a mental institution. He sexually assaulted her a second time, “where suspect Benavides would then pull her hair and tell her that he loved her,” the affidavit states.

After the alleged sexual assault, He told her to go to his gray Dodge Ram. When she was going back to the vehicle, Benavides told her “to pray because she was going to hell for the sin she had committed,” states the affidavit.

He took her to a home in the 3400 block of Corpus Christi Street, where she cried out about the abuse to a female. Initially, the case was reported to Laredo police and Adult Protective Services. The Webb County Sheriff’s Office would take over the case due to the jurisdiction where the incident occurred.

On March 23, 2022, the woman met with Sheriff’s Office investigators at the substation. She corroborated the statement she had given to deputies and provided a physical description of the house where the incident occurred. She also described several body characteristics of Benavides, including a mole on his back, states the affidavit.

Investigators met with Benavides on March 24, 2022, for an interview. He stated he is a pastor at Iglesia Cristiana Casa de Dios “but that the church is no more due to the contract expiring at the building he was renting.” Benavides further stated that the ranch in Las Lomas is a recreation place for the church, court documents state.

Questioned about the relationship with the woman, he mentioned that his late wife was her foster mother and caretaker. Benavides mentioned that they all lived together. He then denied the sexual assault allegations.

“Suspect Benavides stated that (the woman) would consider him and his late wife her spiritual parents. Suspect Benavides continued to say that (her) life was on the wrong path and that suspect Benavides and his late wife changed that,” the affidavit states.

Investigators asked Benavides why the woman would make such allegations. He stated that wife passed away on July 2, 2022, and that he stayed in charge of the woman via Happy Families, LLC. Benavides further stated that she had the desire to be with other men. If her requests were not made, she would start making accusations, states the affidavit.

Benavides also mentioned that she had porn on her cellphone and messages from men wanting to have sex. Asked again if anything had happened between them, Benavides replied “no, nothing at all.” Benavides continued to deny the allegations. He also allowed authorities to take several photos of the moles on his back, the affidavit states.

On March 29, 2022, the woman called an investigator saying that a woman identified as “Consuelo” had been harassing her about pressing charges against Benavides. The woman added that “Consuelo” is Benavides’ girlfriend, the affidavit states.

The investigator called Consuelo and told her to call him if she had questions about the investigation. Questioned about her relationship with Benavides, “Consuelo” stated that he is a friend and that she preached alongside him, authorities said.

An Adult Protective Services investigator would call the Sheriff’s Office saying that the complainant has a tendency of making such outcries if she does not have it her way. Investigators then learned through a representative of Happy Families, LLC. that she was a special needs individual. The representative added that the woman has “attention seeking” tendencies that will make her do allegations if things don’t go her way, authorities said.

A SANE exam result showed that “Semen was indicated; however, no spermatozoa were detected to confirm the presence of semen.” A DNA sample was required for further examination of the results. Benavides would voluntarily provide a DNA sample form. Testing revealed that Benavides’ DNA was present, according to the affidavit.

---

AUTHOR COMMENTARY

Another day, another predator playing pastor caught with his pants down.

Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

Proverbs 28:18

Make no mistake: you pull some deviant acts and perverseness, professing to be a Christian, and a pastor no less, you WILL be found out eventually.

1 Timothy 5:24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. [25] Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.

---

[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

The WinePress needs your support! If God has laid it on your heart to want to contribute, please prayerfully consider donating to this ministry. If you cannot gift a monetary donation, then please donate your fervent prayers to keep this ministry going! Thank you and may God bless you.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE