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 young woman fled the witness stand during testimony, saying “I can’t do that.”

The intern instructed a Statehouse supervisor that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his condo after the 2 had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021. Von Ehlinger said the sex was consensual.

On the time, the Lewiston Republican was serving as a state consultant, but he later resigned.

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

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

Afterward, 4th District Choose Michael Reardon informed the jury: “This has been an unusual case attended by many surprising circumstances, however I recognize your attention ... and onerous work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimum sentence of one 12 months in prison in Idaho. The maximum penalty will 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 with his legal professional who removed gadgets from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

The prosecution remained stoic as they left the courtroom, however as soon as they reached a decrease floor they stopped to briefly to congratulate each other on the decision.

Von Ehlinger’s lawyer, Jon Cox, could not be instantly reached for comment after the trial.

The Related Press typically does not identify individuals who say they have 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 Legal professional Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who handled the case.

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

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 place his fingers between my legs and I closed my knees,” Doe stated.

At that, she stood up.

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

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

When she did not, the choose advised the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) from your minds as if it by no means occurred,” because the defense couldn't cross-examine her.

In the course of the press conference, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katelyn Farley stated the second Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” but stated she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had ready for trial realizing that Doe may not have the ability to testify.

“I feel it’s important that she determined to stroll in the room, and she or he additionally determined to stroll out — these were her choices,” Welsh mentioned.

During his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger usually spoke in a transparent, loud voice directly to jurors, saying he and Doe determined to return to his apartment to “hang out” after eating at a flowery Boise restaurant. Then they started making out on the couch, he mentioned.

“Things have been going well, and I asked (Doe) if she would like to move to the bed room,” von Ehlinger mentioned. “She mentioned ‘Sure.’ We obtained up, held palms and walked into the bed room.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours until practically 8 p.m. Thursday earlier than the jury decided to break for the evening. At one level, the decide summoned the attorneys to his chambers as a result of the jury asked a question. No particulars had been made public about the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations grew to become public — largely due to the legislative ethics investigation — Doe confronted unrelenting harassment from a few of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her title, photo and personal particulars about her life had been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the individuals who continuously harassed her was in the courthouse to attend the trial, but regulation enforcement banned the man from the ground the place the case was being heard.

Throughout closing arguments, Farley instructed jurors that the case was about “energy in the unsuitable palms” used to the “great 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 ways, 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’ show lack of consent. Yanking your head back and getting an harm shows lack of consent,” Farley mentioned.

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

The investigators and the nurse who performed the sexual assault exam testified earlier this week. They said Doe reported being pinned down while von Ehlinger pressured her to carry out oral intercourse, and that she knew he regularly carried a handgun and had positioned it on a dresser near the mattress at the time of the assault. The nurse additionally 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.