[ G.R. No. 1942, February 01, 1905 ]
THE UNITED STATES, COMPLAINANT AND APPELLEE, VS. LOPE DEDICATORIA, DEFENDANT AND APPELLANT.
D E C I S I O N
MAPA, J.:
These facts constitute the crime of estafa as provided for and punished under subsections 1 and 5 of article 535 of the Penal Code. The defendant should be punished with the penalty of arresto mayor in its medium degree to presidio correccional in its minimum degree, because the amount embezzled is more than the sum of 250 pesetas but less than 6,250 pesetas (subsec. 2, art. 534). There are no extenuating circumstances to be considered in imposing the penalty. The fact that the crime was committed at the house of the injured party, which the court below considered as an aggravating circumstance, should not be so considered, because that is an inherent part of the crime, without which said crime could not have been committed. Therefore, the defendant should suffer the penalty prescribed by law in its medium degree, to wit, six months of arresto mayor.
We affirm the judgment below, it being understood that the penalty imposed on the defendant is six months of arresto mayor,with the costs in this instance. So ordered.
Arellano, C. J., Torres, Johnson, and Carson, JJ., concur.