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 through which the younger lady fled the witness stand during testimony, saying “I can’t do this.”

The intern instructed a Statehouse supervisor that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his condominium after the 2 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 discovered guilty Friday of rape. He was found not guilty of sexual penetration with a overseas object.

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

Afterward, 4th District Choose Michael Reardon advised the jury: “This has been an uncommon case attended by many surprising circumstances, but I admire your consideration ... and onerous work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimum sentence of one year in prison in Idaho. The utmost penalty might be as excessive as life in jail, 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 legal professional who removed objects 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 each other on the verdict.

Von Ehlinger’s legal professional, Jon Cox, could not be immediately reached for comment after the trial.

The Associated Press generally doesn't determine people who say they've been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the lady in this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.

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

“Final but not least, it took an unimaginable quantity of courage for the victim in this case, Jane Doe, to return ahead,” Bennetts mentioned. “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 started, earlier than abruptly leaving the witness stand.

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

At that, she stood up.

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

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

When she did not, the decide told the jurors they had to “strike (Doe’s testimony) out of your minds as if it by no means occurred,” because the protection could not cross-examine her.

Through the press conference, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katelyn Farley stated the second Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” however mentioned she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had prepared for trial figuring out that Doe may not be capable to testify.

“I believe it’s vital that she determined to walk in the room, and she also decided to walk out — those have been her selections,” Welsh mentioned.

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

“Issues have been going nicely, and I asked (Doe) if she would like to transfer to the bed room,” von Ehlinger said. “She mentioned ‘Positive.’ We bought up, held arms and walked into the bedroom.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours till nearly 8 p.m. Thursday earlier than the jury determined to break for the evening. At one point, the choose 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 some of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her title, picture and private particulars about her life had been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the individuals who incessantly harassed her was within the courthouse to attend the trial, however regulation enforcement banned the man from the floor where the case was being heard.

During closing arguments, Farley instructed jurors that the case was about “energy within the unsuitable hands” used to the “nice devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and bodily power over the petite intern, Farley mentioned.

“He used that power to rape and forcibly penetrate her,” Farley stated, pointing at von Ehlinger. Doe resisted in several ways, she stated, highlighting the testimony of law 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’ show lack of consent. Yanking your head back and getting an damage reveals lack of consent,” Farley said.

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

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