Former Idaho lawmaker sentenced to 20 years in prison on charge of raping intern

Ryan King

September 01, 12:37 PM September 01, 12:37 PM

Former Idaho state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger was sentenced Wednesday to 20 decades driving bars for raping a 19-yr-outdated intern.

Von Ehlinger, a Republican, was convicted of a rape charge in April and will be suitable for parole following he serves 8 a long time, according to 4th District Decide Michael Reardon, who blasted the former lawmaker for not exhibiting regret for his steps.

Previous IDAHO LAWMAKER Observed Guilty OF RAPING 19-Year-Previous INTERN

“You have a sample of outlining, excusing, deflecting, and blaming other people for the conditions you come across your self in,” Reardon scolded, the Associated Push claimed.

In March of 2021, an intern arrived forward alleging that von Ehlinger raped her at his condominium next a meal the pair had, which the previous condition lawmaker denied, saying the encounter was consensual, for every the report. He beforehand claimed through testimony she under no circumstances gave him any indications "that she was not seeking to take part."

He pleaded not guilty, but a 12-human being jury found him responsible of just one felony depend for raping her. All through the sentencing listening to, audio was reportedly performed of the previous intern recounting the experience and describing worry assaults from hearing his title.

“I am below now. I am below fearful, I am below frightened, [and] I am so petrified, but I will not be intimidated into silence so that another rapist can slip through the cracks of this justice procedure,” she stated, per the information outlet. “I hope he rots in parts driving these chilly metal bars.”

Previous 12 months, the Idaho Household Ethics Committee unanimously proposed expelling von Ehlinger from the state Residence, and he subsequently stepped down.

Von Ehlinger recalled his army service in Afghanistan during sentencing and informed the decide that he fought to defend gals. He also stated that he embarked on a pilgrimage before his demo.

“I was eventually baptized in the Jordan River,” von Ehlinger reported, noting he was first needed to confess his sins. “I confessed a large amount of sins your honor — I am not a best male — but rape was not a sin that I could confess to. It would be [a] sin to confess to one thing that I did not dedicate," von Ehlinger defined through his sentencing.

Slamming von Ehlinger for displaying a lack of compassion towards his previous intern, Reardon declared that the previous lawmaker "produced your own circumstances that set you here today." The choose also demanded von Ehlinger to sign-up as a sexual intercourse offender by using an get that will previous right until 2055.

The Washington Examiner achieved out to a law firm for von Ehlinger for comment.