Share this @internewscast.com

An Idaho jury went into deliberations Thursday after the testimony of a former lawmaker accused of raping a 19-year-old intern in March 2021.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, the intern, identified as “J.V.” in court documents, fled the courtroom halfway through her testimony on Wednesday, as she described her encounter with former state Representative Aaron von Ehlinger.

Von Ehlinger, 39, resigned in April 2021 after a state House ethics committee ruled that he engaged in “conduct unbecoming a representative” in his sexual pursuit of several women who worked at the state Capitol in Boise. During the committee proceedings, legislators heard that von Ehlinger made multiple women feel “uncomfortable” and, at times, “scared,” the Idaho Statesman said.

On Wednesday, J.V. was unable to complete her testimony. She answered questions with monosyllables, and when she reached the point of describing the assault itself, she abruptly stood up, said “I can’t do this,” and left the courtroom. Prosecutors were unable to persuade her to return, and Judge Michael Reardon struck her testimony from the record, ordering the jury to ignore it because defense attorneys were unable to cross examine her.

But Reardon denied a motion from the defense to dismiss the case, saying he’d heard “sufficient evidence of force” from other witnesses, including her mother, a nurse, and two detectives, all of whom J.V. spoke with very shortly after the alleged assault.

Von Ehlinger testified on Thursday that his encounter with J.V. was entirely consensual and that she willingly engaged in sex with him, saying “she never once gave me any indication that she was not wanting to participate.”

Von Ehlinger’s testimony directly contradicted what J.V. had told investigators about the encounter — that he’d pinned her down, tried to force his finger into her vagina, and finally forced his penis into her mouth.

On cross examination, von Ehlinger acknowledged that two previous attorneys had drafted a statement about the events on the night of the alleged assault that was substantially different from the story he told on the stand, according to the Associated Press. Von Ehlinger said in his direct testimony that he rarely carried a gun and was not carrying one that night — J.V. had said he placed his handgun on the nightstand by the bed — although in that earlier statement he said he frequently carried a concealed weapon.

For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.

[Featured image: Aaron von Ehlinger/Ada County Sheriff’s Office]

Source: This post first appeared on

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Four Individuals Accused of Kidnapping and Assaulting Bushwalker

Four people have been charged after a bushwalker was allegedly kidnapped and…

Court Documents Reveal: Suspect Killed Man Disliked by Girlfriend

Aron Isait Medina Rojas (Apple Valley Police Department). A man is accused…

“The Fourth Amendment Isn’t a Recent Concept”

A California federal court has halted the Trump administration from executing immigration…

Judge Overturns Trump’s Anti-Transgender Passport Policy

President Donald Trump addresses the media alongside Elon Musk in the Oval…

Judge Upholds Ruling Preventing Trump from Defunding Planned Parenthood

Background: President Donald Trump is pictured greeting first responders while assessing flood…

New Revelations Unveiled in ‘God’s Misfits’ Murder Plot

Clockwise from top left: Tad Bert Cullum, Tifany Machel Adams, Cora Twombly,…

Urgent Alert: Armed Kidnapping of 7-Year-Old Boy in Wisconsin

Police in Wisconsin are searching for a 7-year-old boy reportedly taken by…

Alachua Hitchcock’s Staff Member Allegedly Faked Attack to Conceal $16,000 Theft from Store Safe

Staff report ALACHUA, Fla. – Denzell Romel Singleton, 31, was apprehended on…

Florida Woman Accused of Stealing Car from Expectant Mother

Inset: Chanel Anderson (Osceola County Corrections). Background: Big Dan”s Car Wash in…

Gainesville resident detained for threatening two individuals with a gun at Cabana Beach Apartments

Staff report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Last night, 33-year-old Naytrellis Naytravone Enoch was…

Son Reportedly Confessed to Killing Family and Dog

Background: The site in New Mexico where the remains of Mestre’s mother,…

Georgia Teen Allegedly Kills Parents and Seeks Sympathy on TikTok, Contacts True Crime Influencer: Report

Teenager Sarah Grace Patrick from Georgia, who is accused of murdering her…