Conservative Oklahoma senator charged with three felonies after child prostitution investigation

NORMAN — A conservative state senator who once wanted to be a missionary was accused Thursday in a child prostitution case of offering to pay a 17-year-old boy for sex.

Sen. Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, was charged with three felony counts, one week after police found him with the teenager in a Moore hotel room.

Gov. Mary Fallin, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, Senate leaders and many others called Thursday for him to resign.

The accusations "do not reflect the character and decorum that we expect of an elected official," Fallin said. "It is not acceptable."