Oklahoma state Senator Bryce Marlatt is facing a felony charge after allegedly sexually assaulting an Uber driver in Oklahoma City:

Senator Bryce Marlatt (R- Woodward) was named as a suspect in the case back in July, but charged with the felony on Wednesday, sources close to the investigation tell News 4. According to the police report, an officer was approached at the Oncue at NW 23rd and Santa Fe by the Uber driver, who told him that she was unsure what she needed to do, but had been assaulted on Monday, June 26. She stated that “she drives for Uber and was transporting a customer when he made advances on her during transit.” The report states the suspect “was grabbing her forcefully and kissing victim on the neck while she was driving.”

According to the local news report (video can be seen below), the Uber driver dropped him off at a bar and then flagged down police. Marlatt isn’t just any state senator; until this allegation surfaced, he was kind of a big deal in the Republican-dominated Oklahoma legislature:

“Effective immediately, Sen. Marlatt is relieved of his Senate chairmanship and vice chairmanships, pending the outcome of this active matter that is still being sorted out. Further action may be taken as deemed necessary.” Marlatt, R-Woodward, was chairman of the Senate Energy Committee and vice chairman of both the Senate Rules Committee and the Senate Transportation Committee.

Sen. Bryce Marlatt (R) overseeing the Oklahoma state legislature

A Marlatt spokesman says he’s shocked, SHOCKED! at the allegations. But this isn’t the first time the influential state senator has been in trouble with the law. In 2014, the father of four was found passed out behind the wheel of his car and charged with DUI:

Marlatt was asleep in the vehicle and smelled heavily of alcohol, according to the arrest report. Police say the first comprehensible thing the man said when asked how much he had to drink tonight was, "No more than anybody else." When asked how many beers he had, Marlatt said, "None. I had what you would call a bourbon and Coke," police say.

In that case, Marlatt made a deal with prosecutors that seems pretty light for a DUI charge, a charge that was eventually dismissed and expunged from his record entirely:

Under a deal with prosecutors, Marlatt agreed to pay a $250 fine, about $1,000 in court costs and $150 in restitution to the Western Plains Youth & Family Services. He also was ordered to complete a drug and alcohol evaluation within six months and follow the recommendations. Marlatt, 38, received a deferred sentence. The case against him will be dismissed if he successfully completes probation.

Ironically enough, in 2010 Marlatt introduced legislation to drug test families needing state assistance, as well as Oklahoma legislators:

The State Senate approved legislation Wednesday which would require state elected officials as well as those in the federally-funded Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program to undergo random drug testing. Sen. Bryce Marlatt is co-author of Senate Bill 1392, and successfully amended the measure to ensure state elected officials are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on the job. “In the private sector, drug testing is part of the job description and state employees are also subject to these tests. I don’t believe our state elected officials should be treated any different,” said Marlatt, R-Woodward.

Marlatt’s amendment would require all state elected officials to undergo the same standards as private sector employees and staff.

Marlatt isn’t the first Oklahoma senator to face allegations or charges of inappropriate sexual contact. In fact, he’s the third this year alone:

Former Rep. Dan Kirby, R-Tulsa, resigned in early February after a House panel recommended he be expelled in the wake of an investigation into sexual harassment claims against him. Kirby said he was not guilty. A few weeks later, his political consultant, Sen. Ralph Shortey, R-Oklahoma City, resigned from the Senate after being charged with engaging in child prostitution, engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church and transporting a minor for prostitution/lewdness.

Ralph Shortey was Donald Trump’s Oklahoma campaign chair, you can read more about his case here.

See more on Marlatt’s current case in this report from Oklahoma News 4: