von Ehlinger arraigned on rape charges in Boise

aaron-von-ehlinger

Former Lewiston state representative Aaron von Ehlinger made his first appearance in a Boise courtroom Wednesday on charges that he raped a young legislative intern earlier this year.

Von Ehlinger waived the formal reading of the charges against him — rape and forcible penetration by use of a foreign object, both felonies — and the judge set a preliminary hearing for October 29th.

A 19-year-old legislative intern reported that he brought her to his apartment under false pretenses and raped her. At the time, von Ehlinger denied all wrongdoing and maintained the sexual contact was consensual.

He resigned from the legislature after a House Ethics Committee unanimously agreed that he engaged in “behavior unbecoming” and recommended that he be suspended without pay for the rest of the legislative session.

The Boise Police Department began an investigation into the incident shortly after it was reported and an arrest warrant was issued for von Ehlinger who was arrested in Georgia last month on a fugitive warrant.

Deputies with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office escorted von Ehlinger back to Idaho last week after extradition issues were resolved.

Both rape and forcible penetration by use of a foreign object carry maximum penalties of life in prison. (AP)

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