GOP Oklahoma State Senator and Oklahoma Trump Campaign Chairman Ralph Shortey faces child prostitution felony charges after police investigated his stay with a 17-year-old boy at a Moore hotel. From News on 6:

The Cleveland County District attorney filed charges of engaging in child prostitution, prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church and transporting minor for prostitution. Around 2:00 p.m. Thursday, Shortey posted his $100,000 bond.

The documents assert that “Shortey offered a 17-year-old boy money in exchange for sexual contact.”

Police went to the Super 8 motel in Moore on a welfare check. The room “reeked of raw marijuana.” The court documents state that officers found messages between Shortey and the teen exchanged online conversations where the senator offered money for “sexual ‘stuff'” when the boy said “he needed money for spring break.” From NewsOK:

Police reported the teenager at one point wrote “I want you bad daddy.” Police reported Shortey, using a graphic word, replied he was going to have sex with “you like a good little boy if you keep calling me daddy.” Police reported Shortey also called the teenager “baby boy” during their online conversation. Shortey used the online name, “Jamie Tilley.” The teenager told police he had known Shortey for about a year and the two originally met through a Craigslist personal encounter ad, according to the affidavit.

The boy’s parents told authorities he “has a history of soliciting himself on Craigslist for sexual conduct.”

Authorities also found “an open box of condoms in Shortey’s backpack and a bottle of lotion in the teenager’s backpack.”

Oklahoma legislators and authorities have come together to demand Shortey’s resignation, including Gov. Mary Fallin and Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb:

Ralph Shortey should resign his seat in the Senate. The charges against him do not reflect the character and decorum that we expect of an elected official. It is not acceptable. In the meantime, there’s a criminal justice system in place to review the allegations. We should respect the process and allow it to work as designed. — Oklahomans deserve to be represented by those above reproach. Ralph Shortey has clearly failed to achieve this minimum standard and had rightfully lost his senate privileges. As a former law enforcement official, I commend the swift actions of the Moore Police Department and the Cleveland County District Attorney’s office. In light of the charges filed against him, Ralph Shortey should resign from his seat so the good people of southwest Oklahoma City can move forward with electing a new state Senator.

The Oklahoma County GOP also spoke out against Shortey:

“The charges and facts brought forward by Moore Police and the Cleveland County District Attorney’s Office have made it clear that Sen. Shortey is unfit to serve while facing these horrific allegations,” Oklahoma County GOP Chairman Daren Ward said. “To continue to serve under these circumstances not only brings shame and controversy to our party, but leaves the people of Senate District 44 without an appropriate voice in state government. We ask that he take immediate action and resign. The Oklahoma County GOP condemns any and all abuse of children and those who solicit and patronize the victimizing act of prostitution. We pray for all those involved who are suffering due to this incident and that the courts bring swift justice and closure.”

The Oklahoma Senate passed a resolution to punish Shortey, which passed 42-0. The punishments include suspending him from committees, return all state owned property, AND removal of name from legislations.



