A former Idaho lawmaker become convicted Friday of raping a 19-12 months-ancient legislative intern after a dramatic trial wherein the younger girl fled the witness stand all over testimony, saying "I cannot do this." in line with the intern, who is known as "Jane Doe" at her request, Aaron von Ehlinger, 39, raped her at his apartment after the two had dinner at a Boise restaurant in March 2021.
Von Ehlinger became a state representative from Lewiston, however later resigned. He sat lightly as the verdict become study, as he has all over the trial. Von Ehlinger talked quietly together with his legal professional, who eliminated gadgets from his pockets as he turned into handcuffed and remanded to custody.
later on, 4th District choose Michael Reardon advised the jury: "This has been an bizarre case attended by way of many unexpected cases, however I appreciate your attention ... and difficult work."
Aaron von Ehlinger in courtroom on April 27, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. Brian Myrick / The Idaho Press-Tribune via AP Doe on Friday haltingly described the moments the alleged assault all started, earlier than suddenly leaving the witness stand.
"He tried to place his fingers between my legs and that i closed my knees," Doe noted. At that, she stood up. "I cannot try this," she spoke of, rapidly strolling out of the court docket.
The decide gave the prosecuting attorneys 10 minutes to find her to investigate if she would return and resume her testimony.
When she didn't, the judge informed the jurors they needed to "strike (Doe's testimony) out of your minds as if it under no circumstances came about," because the protection couldn't pass-assess her.
right through his testimony Thursday, von Ehlinger regularly spoke in a transparent, loud voice at once to jurors, asserting he and Doe decided to come to his house to "hang around" after consuming at a flowery Boise restaurant. Then they all started making out on the sofa, he stated.
"issues have been going smartly, and that i requested (Doe) if she would like to circulate to the bedroom," von Ehlinger talked about. "She pointed out 'certain.' We got up, held hands and walked into the bed room."
He insisted the intercourse was consensual.
Deliberations stretched for seven hours unless virtually 8 p.m. Thursday before the jury determined to wreck for the evening. At one point, the judge summoned the attorneys to his chambers since the jury requested a question. No details had been made public concerning the jury's inquiry.
When the allegations grew to be public — generally as a result of the legislative ethics investigation — Doe faced unrelenting harassment from a few of von Ehlinger's supporters. Her identify, image and personal particulars about her existence have been repeatedly publicized in "doxxing" incidents.
some of the individuals who generally pressured her was in the courthouse to attend the trial, but legislations enforcement banned the man from the flooring where the place case turned into being heard.
during closing arguments, Ada County Deputy Prosecuting attorney Katelyn Farley instructed jurors that the case become about "energy within the wrong fingers" used to the "extraordinary devastation" of Doe. Von Ehlinger had social, political and physical power over the petite intern, Farley observed.
"He used that energy to rape and forcibly penetrate her," Farley noted, pointing at von Ehlinger. Doe resisted in several methods, she said, highlighting the testimony of legislations enforcement investigators and a nurse sexual assault examiner who interviewed Doe after the alleged assault.
"phrases show lack of consent. Excuses of 'Why this should not occur,' show lack of consent. Yanking your head lower back and getting an harm indicates lack of consent," Farley observed.
however von Ehlinger's protection attorney Jon Cox instructed jurors the prosecution's case turned into made from "red herrings," and referred to von Ehlinger changed into a reputable adult who willingly took the stand to share his aspect of the story.
earlier this week, jurors heard from investigators and a nurse who carried out a rape exam. They testified that Doe reported being pinned down whereas von Ehlinger compelled her to operate oral intercourse, and that she knew he commonly carried a handgun and had positioned it on a dresser near the mattress on the time of the assault. A nurse also testified that Doe had a "goose egg" on the lower back of her head from staggering the wall or a headboard while trying to jerk her head faraway from von Ehlinger's grip.
Von Ehlinger's sentencing has been scheduled for July 28.
within the U.S., aid is accessible for survivors of sexual violence and their families. RAINN offers components at 1-800-656-HOPE and on their web site, www.rainn.org
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