Ex-Oklahoma Lawmaker Ralph Shortey Accused Of Child Sex Trafficking

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Police in Moore, near Oklahoma City, found two-term former Republican state Sen. Ralph Shortey with a 17-year-old boy in a motel room and arrested him in March. A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday accuses Shortey — who already faces state child prostitution charges — of also engaging in child pornography and child sex trafficking.

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against Shortey, who resigned in March after he was arrested on state charges of engaging in child prostitution, transporting a minor for prostitution and engaging in prostitution within 1,000 feet of church. He is accused of hiring the boy for sex.

Shortly after Shortey's arrest, the FBI and U.S. Secret Service said they had joined the investigation. The FBI conducted a search of Shortey's Oklahoma City home in March, and the Secret Service said it was helping with the investigation at the request of the Moore Police Department. (For more information on Shortey's case and other Oklahoma City stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Among other things, the federal indictment accuses Shortey of producing child pornography in 2016 and 2017 and of using his smartphone to send videos involving young boys and a young girl in 2013.

In addition, the indictment accuses Shortey of child sex trafficking for allegedly soliciting a minor to engage in a commercial sex act on March 8 and 9, 2017, the same incident that led to Shortey's arrest and the filing of state charges against Shortey in Cleveland County. Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn said Wednesday that those charges will be dismissed following the federal indictment.

Shortey's defense attorney, Ed Blau, did not immediately respond to telephone calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.

Shortey faces up to life in prison if he is convicted of the child sex trafficking charge and maximum sentences of between 20 and 30 years on the other charges. He could also face fines of up to $250,000 on each count.

By TIM TALLEY, Associated Press

Photo credit: Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press