Former Idaho legislator was returning from Central America when arrested in Georgia

Former Idaho legislator Aaron von Ehlinger had been in Central America since May and was in the process of returning to Idaho when he was arrested in Georgia over the weekend, his attorney said Wednesday.

After hearing of the two felony charges he faces — rape, and sexual penetration with a foreign object, both filed more than two weeks ago — von Ehlinger contacted Boise attorney Jon Cox. Von Ehlinger was out of the country on a previously planned vacation, as well as a potential business interest, according to Cox.

The former legislator planned to turn himself in and contest the charges, Cox said.

Von Ehlinger, who lives in the Lewiston area, planned to arrive in Spokane last Friday on his way home, but had a “hiccup” in his travels and missed a connecting flight to Houston, Cox said. He ended up flying to Atlanta on Saturday instead.

Read more: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article254614317.html