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

The intern instructed 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 stated the sex was consensual.

On 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 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 Judge Michael Reardon instructed the jury: “This has been an unusual case attended by many unexpected circumstances, but I recognize your attention ... and arduous work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimal sentence of one yr in prison in Idaho. The utmost penalty may 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 removed objects from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

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

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

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

In a press convention, Ada County Prosecuting Attorney Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who handled the case.

“Final however not least, it took an unimaginable amount of courage for the victim in this case, Jane Doe, to come forward,” Bennetts said. “I wish 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, earlier than 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 decide gave the prosecuting attorneys 10 minutes to search out her to find out if she would return and resume her testimony.

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

Throughout the press convention, Deputy Prosecuting Lawyer Katelyn Farley stated the moment Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” but said she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had ready for trial knowing that Doe might not be able to testify.

“I feel it’s essential that she determined to walk within the room, and he or she additionally decided to walk out — those were her decisions,” Welsh mentioned.

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

“Things had been going well, and I asked (Doe) if she wish to transfer to the bed room,” von Ehlinger stated. “She stated ‘Positive.’ We bought up, held palms and walked into the bed room.”

Deliberations stretched for seven hours until nearly 8 p.m. Thursday earlier than the jury decided to break for the night. At one level, the choose summoned the attorneys to his chambers because the jury requested a query. No particulars have been made public in regards to the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations turned public — largely because of the legislative ethics investigation — Doe confronted unrelenting harassment from some of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her title, photo and private details about her life had been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the individuals who regularly harassed her was within the courthouse to attend the trial, however legislation enforcement banned the person from the ground where the case was being heard.

Throughout closing arguments, Farley advised jurors that the case was about “power within the flawed palms” used to the “nice devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and bodily power over the petite intern, Farley said.

“He used that power to rape and forcibly penetrate her,” Farley stated, 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.

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

However von Ehlinger’s attorney informed jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “purple herrings,” and said von Ehlinger was a credible one who willingly took the stand to share his facet 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 while von Ehlinger forced her to perform oral sex, and that she knew he frequently carried a handgun and had placed it on a dresser near the bed at the time of the assault. The nurse also 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.