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Moore Police Release Report of Incident Involving Oklahoma Senator

UPDATE: March 15, 2017 at 6:28 p.m.

The Moore Police Department has released a redacted police report of the incident. The crime is identified as engaging or soliciting prostitution with a minor.

In the report, a family member of the juvenile told police that he "has a history of soliciting himself on Craigslist for sexual conduct" and "has a history of drug abuse."

The officer notes in the report that he smelled a strong marijuana odor emitting from the hotel room. Inside the room, officers found a bottle of lotion inside a backpack, an open box of condoms, and a tablet.

The tablet, an Amazon Kindle Fire, has been logged into property as evidence, containing messages between the juvenile and the suspect. The juvenile and suspect both told police they had known and texted each other for approximately one year.

The messages show the juvenile asking for "money for spring break" and the adult replying, "I don't really have any legitimate things I need help with right now. Would you be interested in 'sexual' stuff?'"

As of this report, Shortey has not been charged with a crime.

Original Post:

The Oklahoma Senate has approved a resolution, by a vote of 43 to 0, stripping Senator Ralph Shortey of nearly all of his privileges as a lawmaker.

Under the resolution, the Oklahoma City Republican is stripped of his office and parking space, as well as his committee memberships and leadership positions. Shortey's name will be removed from any legislation under the control of the Senate. He also must return his state-owned laptop and any other state-owned property in his possession.

Shortey can still vote on the Senate floor and receive a monthly paycheck of $3,200, plus benefits.

The Oklahoman reports the Moore Police Department is investigating why Shortey was in a Super 8 hotel room with a teenage boy. Police visited that hotel room last Thursday while doing a welfare check, after a relative of the boy raised concerns.

Police on Tuesday would not release a report on the incident. Police did, however, release a brief statement when asked directly for an incident report involving Shortey.
"On March 9 ... officers of the Moore Police Department were contacted in reference to a welfare check at a local hotel," Lt. Kyle Dudley told The Oklahoman. "Responding officers found a juvenile male in a hotel room which was also occupied by an adult male. The circumstances surrounding this incident are currently under investigation and no additional information can be released at this time."

Shortey has not spoken publicly about the investigation. He has been a state lawmaker since 2010.

Shortey made national headlines in 2012 for a bill prohibiting 'the manufacture or sale of food or products which use aborted human fetuses.'

Shortey served on the Oklahoma leadership team for Donald Trump during the 2016 Presidential election.

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