Former Idaho lawmaker found guilty of raping intern

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A former Idaho lawmaker was convicted Friday of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern after a dramatic trial wherein the young girl fled the witness stand during testimony, saying “I can’t do that.”

The intern told a Statehouse supervisor that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his residence after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021. Von Ehlinger mentioned the intercourse was consensual.

On the time, the Lewiston Republican was serving as a state representative, however he later resigned.

Von Ehlinger, 39, was found guilty Friday of rape. He was discovered not guilty of sexual penetration with a international object.

Von Ehlinger sat calmly as the verdict was read, as he has throughout the trial.

Afterward, 4th District Decide Michael Reardon instructed the jury: “This has been an uncommon case attended by many sudden circumstances, but I respect your attention ... and arduous work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimum sentence of 1 12 months in jail in Idaho. The maximum penalty will be as high as life in jail, on the choose’s discretion. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.

As von Ehlinger was remanded into custody and handcuffed, he talked quietly together with his attorney who removed gadgets from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

The prosecution remained stoic as they left the courtroom, but as soon as they reached a lower flooring they stopped to briefly to congratulate one another on the decision.

Von Ehlinger’s attorney, Jon Cox, couldn't be immediately reached for remark after the trial.

The Related Press typically doesn't establish people who say they have been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the woman in this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.

In a press convention, Ada County Prosecuting Lawyer Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who dealt with the case.

“Final but not least, it took an incredible amount of courage for the victim on this case, Jane Doe, to come back ahead,” Bennetts mentioned. “I need to acknowledge the braveness that she took in coming ahead.”

Doe testified on the second day of the trial. She haltingly described the moments the alleged assault started, before abruptly leaving the witness stand.

“He tried to put his fingers between my legs and I closed my knees,” Doe said.

At that, she stood up.

“I can’t do that,” she said, quickly walking out of the courtroom.

The judge gave the prosecuting attorneys 10 minutes to seek out her to determine if she would return and resume her testimony.

When she didn't, the decide instructed the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) out of your minds as if it by no means happened,” as a result of the defense could not cross-examine her.

In the course of the press conference, Deputy Prosecuting Lawyer Katelyn Farley mentioned the moment Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” however said she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had prepared for trial realizing that Doe could not be capable to testify.

“I think it’s vital that she determined to walk within the room, and she or he additionally decided to stroll out — these have been her decisions,” Welsh mentioned.

Throughout his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger typically spoke in a transparent, loud voice on to jurors, saying he and Doe decided to return to his condominium to “hang around” after consuming at a flowery Boise restaurant. Then they began making out on the sofa, he stated.

“Issues have been going effectively, and I requested (Doe) if she wish to transfer to the bed room,” von Ehlinger stated. “She said ‘Positive.’ We acquired up, held hands and walked into the bed room.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours until almost 8 p.m. Thursday before the jury decided to break for the night. At one point, the decide summoned the attorneys to his chambers as a result of the jury requested a query. No particulars had been made public concerning the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations turned public — largely due to the legislative ethics investigation — Doe confronted unrelenting harassment from a few of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her identify, photo and private particulars about her life were repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the individuals who incessantly harassed her was in the courthouse to attend the trial, but legislation enforcement banned the person from the ground where the case was being heard.

During closing arguments, Farley advised jurors that the case was about “energy in the fallacious arms” used to the “nice devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and bodily energy over the petite intern, Farley stated.

“He used that energy to rape and forcibly penetrate her,” Farley mentioned, pointing at von Ehlinger. Doe resisted in a number of methods, she mentioned, highlighting the testimony of legislation enforcement investigators and a nurse sexual assault examiner who interviewed Doe after the alleged assault.

“Phrases show lack of consent. Excuses of ‘Why this shouldn’t occur’ present lack of consent. Yanking your head back and getting an harm exhibits lack of consent,” Farley said.

However von Ehlinger’s attorney informed jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “crimson herrings,” and said von Ehlinger was a credible one that willingly took the stand to share his aspect of the story.

The investigators and the nurse who carried out the sexual assault exam testified earlier this week. They said Doe reported being pinned down whereas von Ehlinger forced her to carry out oral intercourse, and that she knew he frequently carried a handgun and had placed it on a dresser near the mattress on the time of the assault. The nurse also testified that Doe had a “goose egg” on the again of her head from hanging the wall or a headboard whereas trying to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.