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

The intern told a Statehouse supervisor that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his house 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 representative, however he later resigned.

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

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

Afterward, 4th District Judge Michael Reardon informed the jury: “This has been an unusual case attended by many surprising circumstances, but I respect your attention ... and exhausting work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimal sentence of one year in prison in Idaho. The utmost penalty will be as excessive as life in prison, on the decide’s discretion. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.

As von Ehlinger was remanded into custody and handcuffed, he talked quietly together with his legal professional who removed objects from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

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

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

The Related Press typically doesn't identify individuals who say they have been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the woman in this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.

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

“Last but not least, it took an incredible amount of braveness for the victim in this case, Jane Doe, to come back ahead,” Bennetts mentioned. “I need 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 place his fingers between my legs and I closed my knees,” Doe stated.

At that, she stood up.

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

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

When she didn't, the judge informed the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) from your minds as if it by no means happened,” as a result of the protection couldn't cross-examine her.

Throughout the press convention, Deputy Prosecuting Legal professional Katelyn Farley said the second Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” but said she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had prepared for trial figuring out that Doe could not be capable to testify.

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

Throughout his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger typically spoke in a transparent, loud voice directly to jurors, saying he and Doe determined to return to his house to “hang out” after consuming at a flowery Boise restaurant. Then they started making out on the couch, he said.

“Issues had been going well, and I asked (Doe) if she want to move to the bed room,” von Ehlinger mentioned. “She said ‘Sure.’ We acquired up, held arms and walked into the bedroom.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours till practically 8 p.m. Thursday earlier than the jury determined to interrupt for the night. At one point, the choose summoned the attorneys to his chambers because the jury asked a question. No particulars have been made public about the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations turned public — largely due to the legislative ethics investigation — Doe faced unrelenting harassment from a few of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her title, photo and private particulars about her life have been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the people who incessantly harassed her was within the courthouse to attend the trial, but legislation enforcement banned the person from the floor where the case was being heard.

During closing arguments, Farley instructed jurors that the case was about “power within the unsuitable hands” 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 several methods, she said, highlighting the testimony of law enforcement investigators and a nurse sexual assault examiner who interviewed Doe after the alleged assault.

“Phrases present lack of consent. Excuses of ‘Why this shouldn’t occur’ present lack of consent. Yanking your head back and getting an injury shows lack of consent,” Farley mentioned.

But von Ehlinger’s legal professional informed jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “purple herrings,” and mentioned von Ehlinger was a reputable person 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 mentioned Doe reported being pinned down whereas von Ehlinger forced her to perform oral sex, and that she knew he often carried a handgun and had positioned it on a dresser close to the mattress on 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 attempting to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.