Former Idaho lawmaker discovered responsible 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 girl 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 residence after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021. Von Ehlinger said 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 responsible Friday of rape. He was found not responsible of sexual penetration with a foreign object.

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

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

A felony rape conviction carries a minimum sentence of 1 12 months in prison in Idaho. The utmost penalty may be as high 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 along with his legal professional who eliminated objects from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

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

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

The Associated Press generally doesn't identify individuals who say they've 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 handled the case.

“Final however not least, it took an unimaginable quantity of braveness for the victim on this case, Jane Doe, to come back forward,” Bennetts said. “I need to acknowledge the courage 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 mentioned, shortly walking out of the courtroom.

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

Through the press convention, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Katelyn Farley said the moment Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” but said she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had prepared for trial knowing that Doe could not have the ability to testify.

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

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

“Things have been going nicely, and I asked (Doe) if she wish to transfer to the bedroom,” von Ehlinger stated. “She mentioned ‘Sure.’ We got up, held palms and walked into the bed room.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours till practically 8 p.m. Thursday before the jury decided to break for the evening. At one level, the judge summoned the attorneys to his chambers because the jury requested a query. No particulars had been made public concerning the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations grew to become public — largely because of the legislative ethics investigation — Doe faced unrelenting harassment from some of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her identify, photograph and private details about her life were repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the people who steadily harassed her was within 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 incorrect palms” used to the “great devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and bodily energy over the petite intern, Farley said.

“He used that power to rape and forcibly penetrate her,” Farley mentioned, pointing at von Ehlinger. Doe resisted in several methods, she mentioned, 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’ present lack of consent. Yanking your head again and getting an injury reveals lack of consent,” Farley said.

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

The investigators and the nurse who carried out the sexual assault exam testified earlier this week. They said Doe reported being pinned down whereas 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 close to the bed 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.