G.R. No. 186469 - THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, VS. JOVER MATIAS Y DELA FUENTE, ACCUSED-.R E S O L U T I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE , the appeal is DISMISSED . The August 19, 2008 Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. No. 02781 finding appellant Jover Matias y Dela Fuente guilty beyond reasonable doubt of sexual abuse under Section 5 (b), Article III of Republic Act No. 7610 is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATIONS as to penalty and the amount of damages awarded. Appellant is sentenced to suffer the penalty of 12 years of prision mayor as minimum to 17 years, 4 months and 1 day of reclusion temporal as maximum, and ordered to pay the private complainant the amount of P50,000.00 as moral damages. The rest of the assailed Decision stands. SO ORDERED.