State Sen. Ralph Shortey will keep his legislative retirement benefits, regardless of whether he is convicted in a child prostitution case.

His annual pension will be about $9,200 if he resigns or is expelled by the Senate this year. If Shortey is convicted, pleads guilty or no contest to the charges, he will immediately lose his office and employment with the state but could start drawing his retirement benefits in 25 years when he turns 60.

On Thursday, Shortey was charged with three felonies: transporting a minor for prostitution, engaging in child prostitution and doing so within 1,000 feet of a church.

According to court documents, police discovered him in a Moore hotel room with a 17-year-old boy. Police later learned that Shortey messaged the boy offering to give him money for "sexual stuff," according to a police affidavit filed with the charge.