The Zhytomyr Court of Appeals has upheld the sentence of a 41-year-old resident of the Berdychiv district who systematically raped his underage stepdaughter. The court left unchanged the first instance decision, which provided for a sentence of 15 years in prison.
According to the regional prosecutor's office, a resident of the Hryshkovets community committed sexual crimes against a child for several years. The violence occurred when his wife, the girl's mother, was away from home. In order to keep the victim silent, the man threatened her with physical violence.
The crimes became known thanks to the vigilance of the class teacher, who noticed a sharp change in the student's behavior. The teacher informed the school psychologist, after which the girl dared to talk about her experiences. The crime was solved when the child felt that she was ready to be protected.
The case ended with a guilty verdict. After an appellate review, the court's decision became final — the defendant began serving his actual sentence in prison.
The girl's mother has been deprived of parental rights, and the child is in foster care.
