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 that.”

The intern advised 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 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 found not guilty of sexual penetration with a international object.

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

Afterward, 4th District Judge Michael Reardon told the jury: “This has been an uncommon case attended by many sudden circumstances, but I appreciate your consideration ... and hard work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimal sentence of one year in jail in Idaho. The maximum penalty may be as excessive as life in jail, at 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 eliminated gadgets from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

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

Von Ehlinger’s attorney, Jon Cox, could not be immediately reached for remark after the trial.

The Associated Press typically does not establish 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 Legal professional Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who dealt with the case.

“Final but not least, it took an unbelievable quantity of courage for the sufferer on this case, Jane Doe, to return forward,” Bennetts mentioned. “I need to acknowledge the courage 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 said, shortly walking out of the courtroom.

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

When she did not, the judge told the jurors they had to “strike (Doe’s testimony) out of your minds as if it never occurred,” because the protection couldn't cross-examine her.

Through the press convention, Deputy Prosecuting Lawyer Katelyn Farley said the second Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” but stated she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had prepared for trial realizing that Doe could not be capable of testify.

“I think it’s necessary that she determined to walk within the room, and she or he also determined to stroll out — those had been her decisions,” Welsh stated.

Throughout his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger usually spoke in a transparent, loud voice on to jurors, saying he and Doe determined to return to his residence to “hang around” after eating at a fancy Boise restaurant. Then they began making out on the couch, he stated.

“Issues have been going properly, and I asked (Doe) if she wish to transfer to the bedroom,” von Ehlinger mentioned. “She mentioned ‘Certain.’ We received up, held palms and walked into the bed room.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours till almost 8 p.m. Thursday before the jury decided to interrupt for the evening. At one point, the decide summoned the attorneys to his chambers because the jury asked a question. No particulars were made public in regards to the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations grew to become public — largely due to the legislative ethics investigation — Doe confronted unrelenting harassment from some of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her identify, photo and personal details about her life have been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the people who regularly harassed her was in the courthouse to attend the trial, but legislation enforcement banned the man from the floor the place the case was being heard.

During closing arguments, Farley instructed jurors that the case was about “energy in the flawed arms” used to the “nice 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 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.

“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 stated.

But von Ehlinger’s attorney advised jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “purple 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 forced her to perform oral sex, and that she knew he often 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 again of her head from hanging the wall or a headboard while making an attempt to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.