Idaho Supreme Court affirms former legislator Aaron von Ehlinger’s rape conviction

Mia Maldonado, Idaho Capital Sun

BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — The Idaho Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed a former Lewiston legislator’s rape conviction.

Aaron von Ehlinger, 42, was convicted of raping a former legislative intern by an Ada County jury in August 2022. Shortly after his sentencing, he filed to appeal his conviction. In November, his lawyer presented his appeal to the court based on three issues.

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First, he argued that a nurse’s testimony was invalid because she repeated statements made to her by the victim. Second, he argued the district court erred by overruling his counsel’s objection to a leading question asked by the State during direct examination of the forensic nurse. Lastly, he argued there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction.

However, the court held that the former legislator failed to demonstrate his constitutional rights were violated, because his attorney at the time did not object to the nurse’s testimony, or move to strike the nurse’s testimony. Additionally, the court held that the district court did not commit an error by allowing the state to ask the forensic nurse a leading question, and the court concluded that there was enough evidence to support von Ehlinger’s rape conviction. 

Von Ehlinger remains in custody with the Idaho Department of Correction. He will be eligible for parole in 2030 with the possibility of another 12 years.

READ: Idaho Supreme Court Decision on Aaron von Ehlinger