BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A former Idaho lawmaker was once convicted Friday of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern after a dramatic trial through which the younger girl fled the witness stand right through testimony, announcing “I will’t do that.”
The intern advised a Statehouse manager that Aaron von Ehlinger raped her at his condominium after the 2 had dinner at a Boise eating place in March 2021. He stated the intercourse was once consensual.
On the time, von Ehlinger was once a state consultant from Lewiston, however he later resigned.
Von Ehlinger, 39, was once discovered in charge Friday of rape. He was once discovered no longer in charge of sexual penetration with a international object.
Von Ehlinger sat flippantly as the decision was once learn, as he has all over the trial. Von Ehlinger talked quietly together with his lawyer, who got rid of pieces from Von Ehlinger’s wallet as he was once handcuffed and remanded to custody.
In a while, 4th District Pass judgement on Michael Reardon advised the jury: “This has been an odd case attended by way of many sudden instances, however I respect your consideration … and tough paintings.”
Sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.
The Related Press normally does no longer establish individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted, and has referred to the girl on this case as “Jane Doe” at her request.
Doe haltingly described the moments the alleged attack started, earlier than rapidly leaving the witness stand.
“He attempted to place his palms between my legs and I closed my knees,” Doe stated.
“I will’t do that,” she stated, temporarily strolling out of the court.
The pass judgement on gave the prosecuting legal professionals 10 mins to seek out her to resolve if she would go back and resume her testimony.
When she didn’t, the pass judgement on advised the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) out of your minds as though it by no means took place,” for the reason that protection may just no longer cross-examine her.
All the way through his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger regularly spoke in a transparent, loud voice immediately to jurors, announcing he and Doe determined to go back to his condominium to “hang around” after consuming at a complicated Boise eating place. Then they started making out at the sofa, he stated.
“Issues have been going neatly, and I requested (Doe) if she want to transfer to the bed room,” von Ehlinger stated. “She stated ‘Certain.’ We were given up, held palms and walked into the bed room.”
Deliberations stretched for seven hours till just about 8 p.m. Thursday earlier than the jury determined to damage for the night time. At one level, the pass judgement on summoned the legal professionals to his chambers for the reason that jury requested a query. No main points have been made public concerning the jury’s inquiry.
When the allegations was public — in large part as a result of the legislative ethics investigation — Doe confronted unrelenting harassment from a few of von Ehlinger’s supporters. Her identify, photograph and private information about her lifestyles have been many times publicized in “doxxing” incidents. One of the most individuals who often stressed her was once within the courthouse to wait the trial, however legislation enforcement banned the person from the ground the place the place case was once being heard.
All the way through final arguments, Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Lawyer Katelyn Farley advised jurors that the case was once about “energy within the improper palms” used to the “nice devastation” of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and bodily energy over the petite intern, Farley stated.
“He used that energy to rape and forcibly penetrate her,” Farley stated, pointing at von Ehlinger. Doe resisted in different tactics, she stated, highlighting the testimony of legislation enforcement investigators and a nurse sexual attack examiner who interviewed Doe after the alleged attack.
“Phrases display loss of consent. Excuses of ‘Why this shouldn’t occur,’ display loss of consent. Yanking your head again and getting an damage displays loss of consent,” Farley stated.
However von Ehlinger’s protection lawyer Jon Cox advised jurors the prosecution’s case was once made up of “pink herrings,” and stated von Ehlinger was once a reputable one who willingly took the stand to percentage his facet of the tale.
Previous this week, jurors heard from investigators and a nurse who carried out a rape examination. They testified that Doe reported being pinned down whilst von Ehlinger compelled her to accomplish oral intercourse, and that she knew he often carried a handgun and had positioned it on a wardrobe close to the mattress on the time of the attack. A nurse additionally testified that Doe had a “goose egg” at the again of her head from placing the wall or a headboard whilst looking to jerk her head clear of von Ehlinger’s grip.