Moore Police Release Body Cam Footage of Motel Encounter:

Truth is stranger than fiction:

Shortey’s t-shirt references Ephesians 5:22: Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

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Ralph Shortey Bio Courtesy Oklahoma State Legislature website

Senator Ralph Shortey – District 44

Legislative Experience: Senate Member, 2010 – 2017

Party: Republican

A member of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Tribe, Senator Ralph Shortey was born in Casper, Wyoming. He spent part of his childhood on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in Grass Mountain, South Dakota before moving to Oklahoma City where he attended Moore Public Schools. Shortey graduated from West Moore High School in 2000, and following graduation he attended Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City in preparation for mission work in Uganda. In 2002, Ralph married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer and continues to make his home in south Oklahoma City with their two children, Kaitlyn and Elena. With a growing family, Shortey decided against pursuing mission work and instead entered the oil and gas industry, working as a production consultant. In 2010 Shortey, a long-time political volunteer, decided to run for the Senate District 44 seat. In addition to serving in the Oklahoma State Senate, he is currently pursuing a degree in finance and economics. Senator Shortey’ s priorities in the Legislature include personal liberty, fighting illegal immigration and strengthening public safety in Oklahoma.

District Information: District 44

Counties Represented: Canadian County and Oklahoma County

FEDERAL INDICTMENT:

Courtesy Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Oklahoma, Released Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Indictment Unsealed Charging Former State Senator with Child Pornography and Child Sex Trafficking Offenses

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – An indictment was unsealed today charging RALPH ALLAN LEE SHORTEY, 35, of Oklahoma City, with federal crimes involving child pornography and child sex trafficking, announced Mark A. Yancey, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.

On September 5, 2017, a federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Shortey. Counts 1 and 2 charge him with using a facility of interstate commerce on October 10 and 15, 2013, to transport child pornography. In particular, these child pornography counts allege Shortey used his smartphone to send a video involving a prepubescent girl and videos involving young boys from his AOL email address to a Hotmail address and a Yahoo! address. Count 3 alleges Shortey produced child pornography by persuading a minor identified as John Doe to send him at least one image of Doe’s penis. This count alleges Shortey began communicating with Doe on Kik, a social media application, in February 2016 and that the production of child pornography took place between February 14, 2016, and March 8, 2017.

Count 4 charges Shortey with child sex trafficking for soliciting a minor to engage in a commercial sex act on March 8 and 9, 2017. According to the indictment, Doe advised Shortey via Kik on March 8 that he needed money for spring break. Shortey is alleged to have replied: “I don’t really have any legitimate things I need help with right now. Would you be interested in ‘sexual’ stuff?” The indictment states that after Doe responded “yes,” the Kik conversation included explicit references to sexual conduct. The indictment further alleges that just after midnight on March 9, Shortey drove Doe from Doe’s house to a Super 8 Motel in Moore, Oklahoma, where Shortey rented a room with his credit card. Based on information provided by Doe’s father, officers of the Moore Police Department knocked on the motel room door at approximately 1:00 a.m. and allegedly discovered Doe with Shortey, whose backpack contained an open box of condoms.

If convicted, Shortey faces mandatory minimum sentences on each count. Counts 1 and 2 carry no less than 5 and up to 20 years in prison. Count 3 carries no less than 15 and up to 30 years in prison. And Count 4 carries no less than 10 years and up to life in prison. Shortey would also face supervised release after incarceration of at least 5 years and up to life, in addition to fines of up to $250,000 per count, mandatory restitution, $100 special assessments on Counts 1 and 2, and $5,000 special assessments on Counts 3 and 4.

Count 4 relates to facts charged in a three-count information filed in Cleveland County District Court on March 16, 2017, in case number CF-2017-430. In light of the federal indictment, that information will be dismissed. “I believe this case is best handled in one venue and have every confidence the U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute this matter expeditiously,” said Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn. “It was an honor to work with the various law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation.”

The public is reminded these charges are merely accusations and that Shortey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to court filings for further information.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Moore Police Department, with assistance from the Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. McKenzie Anderson and Brandon Hale are prosecuting the case.

Federal Indictment (Graphic details):

https://htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/shortey-indictment-for-web-1504734866.pdf

Guilty Plea:

Shortey’s formal plea will be heard on November 30, 2017 in federal court. According to Shortey’s attorney, the ex-senator will plead guilt to Count 4, Child Sex Trafficking, in exchange for dismissal of the first three charges. The sentence will carry a minimum of 10 years and a maximum life sentence.

Many news outlets have reported Shortey was the Oklahoma Campaign Coordinator for Donald Trump. Shortey was actually a Trump supporter and county coordinator for the Trump campaign.

Co-Chairing Mr. Trump’s campaign in Oklahoma were Mr. Bob Mills and Mr. Dan Keating. Bob Mills has been operating Bob Mills furniture in Oklahoma since 1972. His operations have now expanded into Texas as well. Tulsa native, Dan Keating, is a retired Marine and currently serves as President of Summit Consolidated Group.

The list of Oklahoma leaders endorsing Mr. Trump and county coordinators includes: Senator Ralph Shortey; Senator Mark Allen; Representative Mike Christian; Representative John Bennett; Representative Mike Turner; Bob Mills; Dan Keating & Kathy Keating; Rodney and Jill Timms; Dr. Sam & Lynn Coury; Bob Dani; Stan Ward; Lisa & Steven Kalman; Ferlin Kearns; Larry Stein; Darren Ward; Angie & Jason Thomas; Lester Claraval; Guy & Jennifer Madison; Beth Marshall; Ronnie Farmer; David Morgan; Orvel Robinson; Ella McDonald; Andy Barber; Suzanne Landess; D.W. & Rochelle Converse; Kelly Gatz; Jo Senske; John Horn; Richard Leathers; Monte Kleiner; Gene Marshall; and April Miller.