BOISE, Idaho — A former Idaho lawmaker convicted of raping a 19-year-old legislative intern has been sentenced to twenty years in jail for the crime.
Aaron von Ehlinger should serve at the least eight years earlier than he might be eligible for parole, 4th District Decide Michael Reardon stated through the sentencing listening to on Wednesday.
Von Ehlinger was convicted of felony rape in April, roughly a 12 months after he resigned from his seat within the Home of Representatives after an ethics committee really useful that he be banned from the statehouse.
The decide stated von Ehlinger failed to indicate empathy or regret, and that it was clear he was not prepared for intercourse offender remedy. The sentence would at the least deter von Ehlinger from committing one other crime whereas he’s incarcerated, Reardon stated.
“You will have a sample of explaining, excusing, deflecting and blaming others for the circumstances you end up in,” Reardon stated.
The investigation into von Ehlinger’s actions started in March 2021 after the intern informed a statehouse supervisor that the Republican from Lewiston raped her at his residence after the 2 had dinner at a Boise restaurant. Von Ehlinger has maintained the intercourse was consensual.
The Related Press usually doesn’t 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 attended the sentencing listening to, and through the continuing the prosecutor performed a recording of Doe speaking about how the rape and its aftermath left her traumatized.
Within the recording, Doe described how her autonomy was “ripped violently away.” She typically experiences panic assaults simply from listening to von Ehlinger’s identify, she stated, and has needed to set up safety techniques and cameras outdoors her house. Von Ehlinger’s supporters publicized Doe’s identify, picture and private particulars about her life after she reported the rape, and repeatedly harassed her.
Doe stated she was taking a stand “for the way forward for any Jane and John Doe right here in Idaho.”
“I’m right here now. I’m right here scared, I’m right here frightened, I’m so petrified, however I can’t be intimidated into silence in order that one other rapist can slip via the cracks of this justice system,” Doe stated within the recording. “I hope he rots in items behind these chilly metallic bars.”
Von Ehlinger reminded the decide that he served as a paratrooper within the Afghanistan battle, and stated that he was skilled within the navy to guard folks, particularly girls.
“We have been skilled to combat towards evil and combat for individuals who can not combat for themselves, particularly girls. That’s one thing I consider then and one thing I completely consider now,” von Ehlinger stated.
He later continued, “The one factor between Afghani girls and the center ages was the American soldier and I’m very proud that we have been in a position to try this.”
He additionally stated that he went on a pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan and Egypt earlier than his trial.
“I used to be in the end baptized within the Jordan River,” von Ehlinger stated, however was first required to admit his sins. “I confessed loads of sins your honor — I’m not an ideal man — however rape was not a sin that I may confess to. It could be sin to admit to one thing that I didn’t commit.”
However the decide stated von Ehlinger demonstrated an absence of empathy for the sufferer and had a propensity in charge her.
“You see your self as a sufferer and also you see your self as a hero, and albeit I don’t see you as both a type of issues,” Reardon informed the defendant. “You created your personal circumstances that put you right here right this moment.”
The decide additionally ordered von Ehlinger to register as a intercourse offender and positioned him beneath a no-contact order lasting via 2055.
