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 younger girl fled the witness stand throughout testimony, saying “I can’t do that.”

The intern advised a Statehouse supervisor that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his house after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021. Von Ehlinger mentioned 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 guilty Friday of rape. He was discovered not responsible of sexual penetration with a international object.

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

Afterward, 4th District Decide Michael Reardon told the jury: “This has been an uncommon case attended by many unexpected circumstances, however I appreciate your consideration ... and laborious work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimal sentence of 1 yr in prison in Idaho. The utmost penalty could be as high as life in prison, on the decide’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 objects from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

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

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

The Related Press typically doesn't identify individuals who say they have been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the lady on 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 handled the case.

“Last however not least, it took an incredible amount of braveness for the victim in this case, Jane Doe, to come forward,” Bennetts said. “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, earlier than abruptly leaving the witness stand.

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

At that, she stood up.

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

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

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

During the press convention, Deputy Prosecuting Legal professional Katelyn Farley stated the second Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” but mentioned she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had ready for trial figuring out that Doe might not be capable of testify.

“I think it’s necessary that she determined to walk in the room, and he or she also determined to walk out — these have been her choices,” Welsh mentioned.

During his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger often spoke in a transparent, loud voice directly to jurors, saying he and Doe determined to return to his condo to “hang around” after consuming at a fancy Boise restaurant. Then they started making out on the sofa, he said.

“Things have been going nicely, and I requested (Doe) if she wish to move to the bed room,” von Ehlinger stated. “She stated ‘Sure.’ We bought up, held palms and walked into the bed room.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours till practically 8 p.m. Thursday earlier than the jury decided to break for the evening. At one level, the judge summoned the attorneys to his chambers because the jury requested a query. No details have been made public in regards to the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations turned public — largely because of the legislative ethics investigation — Doe faced unrelenting harassment from some of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her identify, photograph and private particulars about her life had been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the individuals who frequently harassed her was in the courthouse to attend the trial, however law 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 “great devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and bodily power over the petite intern, Farley stated.

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

“Words present lack of consent. Excuses of ‘Why this shouldn’t occur’ show lack of consent. Yanking your head again and getting an harm reveals lack of consent,” Farley mentioned.

However von Ehlinger’s legal professional instructed 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 facet of the story.

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