Former Idaho lawmaker discovered 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 lady fled the witness stand during testimony, saying “I can’t do this.”

The intern advised a Statehouse supervisor that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his apartment after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021. Von Ehlinger said the sex was consensual.

At the time, the Lewiston Republican was serving as a state consultant, however he later resigned.

Von Ehlinger, 39, was found responsible Friday of rape. He was found not responsible of sexual penetration with a foreign object.

Von Ehlinger sat calmly as the decision was learn, as he has throughout the trial.

Afterward, 4th District Judge Michael Reardon advised the jury: “This has been an unusual case attended by many sudden circumstances, however I recognize your attention ... and hard work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimal sentence of one yr in jail in Idaho. The utmost penalty might be as high as life in prison, on the judge’s discretion. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.

As von Ehlinger was remanded into custody and handcuffed, he talked quietly along with his lawyer who eliminated items from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

The prosecution remained stoic as they left the courtroom, but once they reached a lower ground they stopped to briefly to congratulate each other on the decision.

Von Ehlinger’s lawyer, Jon Cox, couldn't be instantly reached for comment after the trial.

The Associated Press generally does not identify individuals who say they've been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the girl in this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.

In a press conference, Ada County Prosecuting Attorney Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who handled the case.

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

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

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

At that, she stood up.

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

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

When she did not, the choose instructed the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) from your minds as if it never happened,” as a result of the defense could not cross-examine her.

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

“I believe it’s important that she decided to stroll within the room, and she or he also determined to walk out — these were her decisions,” Welsh said.

Throughout his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger often spoke in a transparent, loud voice on to jurors, saying he and Doe decided to return to his house to “hang out” after eating at a elaborate Boise restaurant. Then they started making out on the sofa, he stated.

“Things were going properly, and I requested (Doe) if she would like to transfer to the bedroom,” von Ehlinger said. “She said ‘Sure.’ We got up, held arms and walked into the bedroom.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours till nearly 8 p.m. Thursday before the jury decided to break for the night. At one level, the judge summoned the attorneys to his chambers because the jury asked a question. No details had been made public concerning the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations grew to become public — largely because of the legislative ethics investigation — Doe confronted unrelenting harassment from a few of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her name, photo and private details about her life had been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of many individuals who frequently harassed her was in the courthouse to attend the trial, but legislation enforcement banned the man from the floor the place the case was being heard.

Throughout 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 said.

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

“Words show lack of consent. Excuses of ‘Why this shouldn’t occur’ show lack of consent. Yanking your head back and getting an harm shows lack of consent,” Farley stated.

But von Ehlinger’s legal professional told jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “crimson herrings,” and mentioned von Ehlinger was a reputable person who willingly took the stand to share his aspect of the story.

The investigators and the nurse who carried out the sexual assault examination testified earlier this week. They mentioned Doe reported being pinned down whereas von Ehlinger pressured her to perform oral intercourse, and that she knew he frequently carried a handgun and had positioned it on a dresser close to the mattress at the time of the assault. The nurse also testified that Doe had a “goose egg” on the back of her head from putting the wall or a headboard whereas making an attempt to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.