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 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 representative, however he later resigned.

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

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

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

A felony rape conviction carries a minimal sentence of 1 year in jail in Idaho. The utmost penalty may be as excessive as life in prison, at the judge’s discretion. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.

As von Ehlinger was remanded into custody and handcuffed, he talked quietly together with his lawyer who removed 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 instantly reached for remark after the trial.

The Associated Press usually does not determine 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 convention, Ada County Prosecuting Lawyer Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who handled the case.

“Final but not least, it took an unbelievable quantity of braveness for the sufferer in this case, Jane Doe, to come forward,” Bennetts mentioned. “I wish 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, 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 said, shortly strolling out of the courtroom.

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

When she did not, the choose informed the jurors they had to “strike (Doe’s testimony) out of your minds as if it never occurred,” as a result of the protection could not cross-examine her.

In the course of the press conference, Deputy Prosecuting Legal professional Katelyn Farley said the second Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” however said she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had ready for trial figuring out that Doe might not be able to testify.

“I believe it’s essential that she decided to walk within the room, and she also determined to stroll out — those had been her selections,” Welsh said.

During his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger often spoke in a transparent, loud voice on to jurors, saying he and Doe determined to return to his house to “hang around” after eating at a flowery Boise restaurant. Then they started making out on the sofa, he stated.

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

Deliberations stretched for seven hours until almost 8 p.m. Thursday earlier than the jury decided to interrupt for the evening. At one point, the decide summoned the attorneys to his chambers as a result of the jury requested a question. No details have been made public in regards to the jury’s inquiry.

When the allegations turned public — largely because of the legislative ethics investigation — Doe faced unrelenting harassment from some of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her identify, photograph and personal details about her life had been repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the people who regularly harassed her was within the courthouse to attend the trial, but regulation enforcement banned the person from the ground the place the case was being heard.

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

“He used that power 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.

“Phrases show 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.

However von Ehlinger’s attorney advised jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “crimson 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 examination testified earlier this week. They said Doe reported being pinned down while von Ehlinger pressured her to perform oral sex, and that she knew he ceaselessly 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 back of her head from striking the wall or a headboard while trying to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.