A former Republican Party Idaho state legislator was found guilty Friday of raping a legislative intern from 19 years in 2021.
Aaron von Ehlinger, of 39 years old, was convicted in an Ada County court on one count of rape, though he was acquitted of one count of forcible penetration by use of a foreign object, court documents show.
The accusation against the former legislator was carried out by an intern, whose name was presented in court only by her initials, alleging that a Republican state representative from 28 years old engaged in non-consensual sexual acts with her in March 2021 after taking her out to dinner.
Faced with the scandal just beginning, Von Ehlinger resigned from his position a month after the sexual assault after a state House committee heard the intern’s accusations and unanimously recommended that the defendant be stripped of the powers of his office without pay.
The young woman from 19 years-old was on the witness stand during the trial this week, but fled the courtroom in a daze as she provided details of the rape, saying, “I can’t do this,” KIVI reported.
“I think it was a human reaction when he ran out of the room,” Ada County Deputy District Attorney Katelyn Farley said during a press conference on Friday.
For his part, the Ada County Prosecutor, Jan Bennetts, emphasized that Von Ehlinger’s conviction sends a message that victims can be believed, and highlighted the importance of reducing barriers so that victims come forward.
Meanwhile, Von Ehlinger testified that the sexual encounter was consensual. However, defense attorney Jon Cox declined to comment when asked by KIVI.
Von Ehlinger’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 19 July, online court records stated. Prosecutor Bennetts indicated that the maximum penalty for rape in Idaho is life in prison.
The former legislator took office in June 2020, being appointed by Idaho Governor Brad Little to fill a vacancy in the State House. In November of that same year he was elected for a full term.
With information from CNN