Former Idaho lawmaker sentenced to prison after rape conviction

BOISE, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — A former Idaho lawmaker is sentenced to prison after being convicted of raping a statehouse intern.

On Thursday, von Ehlinger addressed the judge prior to being given his sentence.

“I ask for your mercy and your leniency,” von Ehlinger said. “Whatever treatment you order, your honor, I absolutely will take seriously. I will do everything that is asked of me, without a doubt, with a same level of seriousness as I would in the military.”

Aaron von Ehlinger received a 20-year sentence, with eight of those years fixed, according to our sister station, KBOI, in Boise.

The former representative from Orofino was found guilty of rape earlier this year by a 12-person jury.

The victim was a 19-year-old intern for a different lawmaker, who accused von Ehlinger of engaging in nonconsensual sexual acts with her in March 2021 after taking her to dinner.

The 40-year-old resigned from his position a month later.

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