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

The intern informed 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 intercourse was consensual.

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

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

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

Afterward, 4th District Decide Michael Reardon informed the jury: “This has been an unusual case attended by many unexpected circumstances, but I recognize your consideration ... and onerous work.”

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

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

The prosecution remained stoic as they left the courtroom, but once they reached a lower floor they stopped to briefly to congratulate one another on the verdict.

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

The Related Press usually 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 Legal professional Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who dealt with the case.

“Final however not least, it took an unimaginable amount of courage for the sufferer in this case, Jane Doe, to come forward,” Bennetts mentioned. “I need 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 put his fingers between my legs and I closed my knees,” Doe mentioned.

At that, she stood up.

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

The decide 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 told the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) from your minds as if it never occurred,” as a result of the defense couldn't cross-examine her.

Throughout the press conference, Deputy Prosecuting Legal professional Katelyn Farley said the moment Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” however said she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had ready for trial realizing that Doe could not be able to testify.

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

Throughout his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger usually spoke in a clear, 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 sofa, he said.

“Issues had been going nicely, and I requested (Doe) if she want to transfer to the bed room,” von Ehlinger stated. “She mentioned ‘Positive.’ We got up, held arms and walked into the bedroom.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours until almost 8 p.m. Thursday earlier than the jury decided to interrupt for the evening. At one point, the decide summoned the attorneys to his chambers as a result of the jury requested a question. No details had been made public in regards to the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations became public — largely due to the legislative ethics investigation — Doe faced unrelenting harassment from some of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her title, picture and private particulars about her life have been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the people who often harassed her was in the courthouse to attend the trial, however legislation enforcement banned the person from the ground the place the case was being heard.

During closing arguments, Farley told jurors that the case was about “power within the wrong fingers” used to the “great devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and bodily power over the petite intern, Farley said.

“He used that energy to rape and forcibly penetrate her,” Farley stated, pointing at von Ehlinger. Doe resisted in a number of ways, she said, 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 happen’ show lack of consent. Yanking your head back and getting an damage exhibits lack of consent,” Farley said.

However von Ehlinger’s lawyer informed jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “purple herrings,” and stated von Ehlinger was a credible 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 stated Doe reported being pinned down while von Ehlinger forced her to carry out oral sex, and that she knew he incessantly carried a handgun and had positioned it on a dresser near the mattress on the time of the assault. The nurse also testified that Doe had a “goose egg” on the back of her head from striking the wall or a headboard while trying to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.