A former Idaho lawmaker was once convicted Friday of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern after a dramatic trial wherein the younger lady fled the witness stand all over testimony, announcing “I will be able to’t do that.” In step with the intern, who’s known as “Jane Doe” at her request, Aaron von Ehlinger, 39, raped her at his condominium after the 2 had dinner at a Boise eating place in March 2021.
Von Ehlinger was once a state consultant from Lewiston, however later resigned. He sat flippantly as the decision was once learn, as he has all through the trial. Von Ehlinger talked quietly along with his legal professional, who got rid of pieces from his wallet as he was once handcuffed and remanded to custody.
In a while, 4th District Pass judgement on Michael Reardon informed the jury: “This has been an atypical case attended through many sudden instances, however I respect your consideration … and tough paintings.”
Brian Myrick / The Idaho Press-Tribune by way of AP
Doe on Friday haltingly described the moments the alleged attack started, sooner than all of a sudden leaving the witness stand.
“He attempted to place his arms between my legs and I closed my knees,” Doe stated. At that, she stood up. “I will be able to’t do that,” she stated, briefly strolling out of the court.
The pass judgement on gave the prosecuting legal professionals 10 mins to seek out her to decide if she would go back and resume her testimony.
When she didn’t, the pass judgement on informed the jurors they needed to “strike (Doe’s testimony) out of your minds as though it by no means came about,” for the reason that protection may just no longer cross-examine her.
Throughout his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger frequently spoke in a transparent, loud voice immediately to jurors, announcing he and Doe made up our minds 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 wish to transfer to the bed room,” von Ehlinger stated. “She stated ‘Positive.’ We were given up, held arms and walked into the bed room.”
He insisted the intercourse was once consensual.
Deliberations stretched for seven hours till just about 8 p.m. Thursday sooner than the jury made up our minds 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 changed into 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, picture and private information about her existence have been again and again publicized in “doxxing” incidents.
Probably the most individuals who often confused 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.
Throughout last arguments, Ada County Deputy Prosecuting Legal professional Katelyn Farley informed jurors that the case was once about “energy within the improper arms” 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 techniques, 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 mustn’t occur,’ display loss of consent. Yanking your head again and getting an harm displays loss of consent,” Farley stated.
However von Ehlinger’s protection legal professional Jon Cox informed 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 proportion 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 pressured her to accomplish oral intercourse, and that she knew he often carried a handgun and had positioned it on a cloth cabinet 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 putting the wall or a headboard whilst seeking to jerk her head clear of von Ehlinger’s grip.
Von Ehlinger’s sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.
Within the U.S., lend a hand is to be had for survivors of sexual violence and their households. RAINN gives sources at 1-800-656-HOPE and on their site, www.rainn.org