A Republican senator from the state of Oklahoma was charged on Tuesday after being caught in a prostitution sting with a teenage boy.
According to CBSNews.com, Cleveland County prosecutors charged State Sen. Ralph Shortey with engaging in child prostitution, engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of a church and transporting a minor for prostitution/lewdness after he was discovered by law enforcement at a local area Moore motel with the teenager.
In a March 9 court affidavit, police detectives noted that Shortey admitted to engaging in conversations “pertaining to sexual activities in exchange for money.”
Via Tulsa World.com
Police also found a text conversation preserved on the teenager’s tablet computer about the teen’s need to make some money for spring break, according to the incident report. Using a screen name, Shortey allegedly responded, “I don’t really have any legitimate things I need help right now. Would you be interested in ‘sexual’ stuff?”
Police were told the teen had a history of drug abuse and “soliciting himself on Craigslist for sexual conduct,” the incident report states.
Police found the Senator and the underage victim at the motel after the teen’s girlfriend notified his father. Officers reported smelling marijuana when they knocked on the door.