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

The intern instructed 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 stated 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 found not responsible of sexual penetration with a foreign object.

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

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

A felony rape conviction carries a minimal sentence of one 12 months in prison in Idaho. The maximum penalty could be as high as life in jail, on the decide’s discretion. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.

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

The prosecution remained stoic as they left the courtroom, however once they reached a decrease floor 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 Associated Press usually does not identify people 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 Legal professional Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who handled the case.

“Last however not least, it took an incredible quantity of courage for the victim in this case, Jane Doe, to come ahead,” Bennetts stated. “I want 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 began, 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 stated, rapidly walking 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 told the jurors they had to “strike (Doe’s testimony) from your minds as if it by no means happened,” as a result of the defense couldn't cross-examine her.

In the course of the press conference, Deputy Prosecuting Legal professional Katelyn Farley said the moment Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” however stated she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had ready for trial knowing that Doe might not be capable of testify.

“I believe it’s essential that she determined to walk in the room, and she or he additionally decided to stroll out — those were her choices,” Welsh stated.

During his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger typically spoke in a transparent, loud voice directly to jurors, saying he and Doe determined to return to his residence to “hang out” after eating at a elaborate Boise restaurant. Then they began making out on the sofa, he mentioned.

“Issues had been going nicely, and I requested (Doe) if she would like to transfer to the bed room,” von Ehlinger said. “She said ‘Certain.’ We obtained up, held hands and walked into the bedroom.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours till nearly 8 p.m. Thursday before the jury determined to interrupt for the evening. At one level, the decide summoned the attorneys to his chambers as a result of the jury requested a query. No details had been made public about 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 title, photo and personal details about her life have been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the people who steadily harassed her was in the courthouse to attend the trial, but law enforcement banned the man from the ground the place the case was being heard.

Throughout closing arguments, Farley advised jurors that the case was about “power within the wrong fingers” used to the “great devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and physical 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 said, highlighting the testimony of regulation 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 happen’ show lack of consent. Yanking your head back and getting an injury shows lack of consent,” Farley said.

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 one who willingly took the stand to share his side of the story.

The investigators and the nurse who performed the sexual assault examination testified earlier this week. They mentioned Doe reported being pinned down while von Ehlinger compelled her to perform oral intercourse, and that she knew he regularly carried a handgun and had placed it on a dresser close to the bed on the time of the assault. The nurse also testified that Doe had a “goose egg” on the again of her head from placing the wall or a headboard while making an attempt to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.