Aaron von Ehlinger, former Idaho State Representative, was convicted of raping a legislative intern, aged 20 , by a jury of 12 people after 11 hours of deliberations for two days.
The former legislator was charged with two serious crimes, rape and forced penetration by means of a foreign object. The woman, who was then 19 years old, said that Von Ehlinger forced her to have sex after dinner. The jury found him not guilty on the charge of forcible entry.
The jurors’ decision followed an emotional three-day trial in which the young woman’s key testimony was interrupted after she left the courtroom by saying “I can’t do this” while on the stand, so his statement was removed from the deliberations.
Von Enlinger, of 39 years, repeatedly denied the accusations against him and maintains that he had consensual sexual relations with the intern, identified by the initials JV in court.
The former representative resigned from the Idaho House of Representatives in 2021, a few hours after a legislative ethics committee recommended for unanimously expel the Republican from the seat of him.
The man could face from one year to life in prison and must register as a sex offender. His sentencing is scheduled for July 28 at 9: 00 in the morning.
The former legislator was taken into police custody this Friday and booked into the Ada County Jail.
During the trial , the court heard the testimony of more than six witnesses, most called by the prosecution, who testified about the rape of the young woman. Including the nurse who examined JV and two detectives who chatted with her.
Likewise, the members of the jury heard the testimony of almost two hours by Von Ehlinger, this Thursday when he narrated a different version of the events of the night of the 9th of March of 2021, at the time of the sexual assault.
The jury reached the verdict despite not being able to hear the key testimony of his accuser. The woman testified briefly Wednesday, but she fled the witness stand in the middle of describing the rape.
JV said that the former Republican politician had put her hand between her legs and she closed them, shortly before interrupting her statement . Because Von Ehlinger’s attorney was unable to cross-examine her, 4th District Court Judge Michael Reardon ordered the jury to disregard the young woman’s testimony.
For her part, Katelyn Margueritte Farley, Assistant District Attorney for Ada County, said that her office prepared her case knowing how difficult it would be for JV to enter the court room.
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