March 16 (UPI) -- Prosecutors announced Thursday they charged Oklahoma state Sen. Ralph Shortey with three felony charges after he was found last week in a motel with a teenage boy.
Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn announced the charges, which include soliciting prostitution of a minor, prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church and transporting for the purpose of prostitution.
Police said they arrived at the Super 8 Motel in Moore and found a man with a 17-year-old boy. Motel employees said a person named Ralph Allen Shortey checked in shortly after midnight on March 9. Police arrived within 30 minutes and described a "strong odor of raw marijuana emitting from the hotel room." Lotion and a box of condoms were found in a backpack within the room.
Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn said texts sent between Shortey and the teen were under investigation and led the boy's family to contact police.
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Shortey, a Republican, is married with children, and a state senator since 2010. The Oklahoma State Senate voted 43-0 on Wednesday in favor of a resolution accusing Shortey of "disorderly behavior."
A statement by Sam Pollard, chairman of the state's Republican Party, said the party condemns "the actions of Sen. Ralph Shortey to the strongest degree."
"While we believe in the right to a fair trial and that all people deserve their day in court, the accusations against Ralph Shortey are in no way in line with the principles of the Oklahoma Republican Party ... clearly, we are horrified by the allegations against Sen. Ralph Shortey and that he may have taken detestable actions against children. If proven to be true, appropriate justice should be served."
Shortey has not been charges with any crimes.
