HARRISBURG, PA — A Lebanon County jury convicted Fernando H. Silva on all charges Thursday in a case involving the abuse of two children between 2019 and 2024, concluding a three-day trial in which both victims testified about conduct that occurred while they were largely preteens.
Silva, 35, was found guilty of felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child, indecent assault and corruption of minors, along with misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Trial testimony showed that Silva was an acquaintance of the children and had regular access to them over a period of years.
According to testimony presented to the jury, Silva physically abused the children with his hands, belts and other household objects and subjected them to inappropriate sexual contact.
One of the children first disclosed the abuse in 2024, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
“For years, this defendant repeatedly abused these children who ultimately had the strength to tell their stories, then bravely take the stand in court this week,” Attorney General Dave Sunday stated.
Sunday also credited the investigators and prosecutor who handled the case and the jury for reaching its verdict after considering the evidence.
Lebanon County Detectives filed the charges. Senior Deputy Attorney General Amy Muller prosecuted the case.
Silva is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 16.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
