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

The intern advised 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 said the intercourse was consensual.

At the time, the Lewiston Republican was serving as a state consultant, however he later resigned.

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

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

Afterward, 4th District Choose Michael Reardon told the jury: “This has been an unusual case attended by many surprising circumstances, however I admire your consideration ... and onerous work.”

A felony rape conviction carries a minimal sentence of one yr in prison in Idaho. The utmost penalty might be as high as life in prison, on 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 removed items from von Ehlinger’s pockets.

The prosecution remained stoic as they left the courtroom, but once they reached a decrease flooring they stopped to briefly to congratulate each other on the decision.

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

The Associated Press typically does not establish people 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 Attorney Jan Bennetts thanked the jury, investigators and the prosecutors who dealt with the case.

“Final however not least, it took an incredible amount of courage for the sufferer on this case, Jane Doe, to come back ahead,” Bennetts said. “I want 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 said.

At that, she stood up.

“I can’t do this,” she stated, rapidly strolling out of the courtroom.

The judge gave the prosecuting attorneys 10 minutes to seek out her to find out if she would return and resume her testimony.

When she did not, the judge 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.

Throughout the press conference, Deputy Prosecuting Lawyer Katelyn Farley mentioned the second Doe left the trial was “heart-wrenching,” however mentioned she and deputy prosecutor Whitney Welsh had prepared for trial figuring out that Doe could not have the ability to testify.

“I think it’s necessary that she decided to stroll within the room, and he or she also determined to stroll out — these had been her selections,” Welsh mentioned.

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

“Issues have been going nicely, and I requested (Doe) if she wish to move to the bed room,” von Ehlinger said. “She mentioned ‘Positive.’ We obtained up, held palms and walked into the bedroom.”

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

When the allegations became public — largely due to the legislative ethics investigation — Doe confronted unrelenting harassment from a few of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her identify, photograph and personal particulars about her life were repeatedly publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of many people who continuously harassed her was within the courthouse to attend the trial, but regulation enforcement banned the person from the floor the place the case was being heard.

Throughout closing arguments, Farley instructed jurors that the case was about “power in the mistaken arms” used to the “nice devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and physical energy over the petite intern, Farley mentioned.

“He used that energy to rape and forcibly penetrate her,” Farley mentioned, pointing at von Ehlinger. Doe resisted in several ways, she said, highlighting the testimony of law 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 occur’ present lack of consent. Yanking your head again and getting an harm reveals lack of consent,” Farley said.

However von Ehlinger’s attorney instructed jurors the prosecution’s case was made up of “crimson herrings,” and mentioned von Ehlinger was a credible one that 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 carry out oral sex, and that she knew he incessantly carried a handgun and had positioned it on a dresser close to the mattress on the time of the assault. The nurse also testified that Doe had a “goose egg” on the again of her head from putting the wall or a headboard while attempting to jerk her head away from von Ehlinger’s grip.