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 wherein the young lady 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 two had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021. Von Ehlinger stated the sex was consensual.

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

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

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

Afterward, 4th District Choose Michael Reardon instructed the jury: “This has been an unusual case attended by many unexpected circumstances, however I admire your attention ... and exhausting work.”

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

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

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

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

The Related Press usually does not determine people who say they've been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the girl in this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.

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

“Last however not least, it took an unimaginable amount of courage for the sufferer on this case, Jane Doe, to come ahead,” Bennetts said. “I wish 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 started, earlier than abruptly leaving the witness stand.

“He tried to place his fingers between my legs and I closed my knees,” Doe mentioned.

At that, she stood up.

“I can’t do that,” she stated, quickly strolling 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 didn't, the choose told the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) from your minds as if it by no means happened,” because the defense could not cross-examine her.

During the press conference, Deputy Prosecuting Legal professional Katelyn Farley stated the moment Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” however stated she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had prepared for trial figuring out that Doe could not be capable of testify.

“I think it’s vital that she decided to walk in the room, and he or she also determined to stroll out — these have been her decisions,” Welsh stated.

Throughout his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger usually spoke in a transparent, loud voice directly to jurors, saying he and Doe decided to return to his house to “hang out” after eating at a elaborate Boise restaurant. Then they began making out on the couch, he mentioned.

“Issues had been going effectively, and I asked (Doe) if she wish to transfer to the bed room,” von Ehlinger said. “She stated ‘Certain.’ We obtained up, held arms and walked into the bedroom.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours until practically 8 p.m. Thursday before the jury determined to break for the night. At one level, the decide summoned the attorneys to his chambers because the jury requested a question. No details were made public in regards to the jury’s inquiry.

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

During closing arguments, Farley told jurors that the case was about “energy in the mistaken fingers” used to the “nice devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and bodily power over the petite intern, Farley stated.

“He used that power to rape and forcibly penetrate her,” Farley mentioned, pointing at von Ehlinger. Doe resisted in a number of ways, she stated, highlighting the testimony of regulation enforcement investigators and a nurse sexual assault examiner who interviewed Doe after the alleged assault.

“Words show lack of consent. Excuses of ‘Why this shouldn’t happen’ show lack of consent. Yanking your head back and getting an damage shows lack of consent,” Farley stated.

However von Ehlinger’s attorney told jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “red 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 carried out the sexual assault examination testified earlier this week. They said Doe reported being pinned down whereas von Ehlinger pressured her to perform oral intercourse, and that she knew he often carried a handgun and had positioned it on a dresser close to the bed at the time of the assault. The nurse additionally testified that Doe had a “goose egg” on the again of her head from placing the wall or a headboard while trying to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.