Police in Moore, Oklahoma have released bodycam footage of the skirmish that led 35-year-old Senator Ralph Shortey to be charged with child prostitution charges.
Shortey pleaded guilty to child sex trafficking charges in exchange for his child pornography charges to be dropped.
The former Republican state senator was charged in September, following an investigation that began in March and lasted several months — after the politician was discovered in a hotel room with a 17-year-old boy.
On March 9, authorities were called to a Super 8 Motel. Now, police have released bodycam footage from the officers who responded.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“So, what are they saying?” asks one officer.
“Well, drug related, maybe,” says another. “Maybe was coming here to buy some weed. Either here for narcotics, or prostitution for narcotics.”
“Like, the kid’s prostituting himself out?”
Related: ‘Family values’ politician slapped with multiple federal child porn and sex trafficking charges
Later in the vid, police are clearly trying to get the people from inside the room to come out:
“Hey, it’s Moore Police Department, man. We just need to check on your welfare, make sure you’re okay. We’re not going away… You said you’re getting dressed? You better hurry it up.”
Officers comment on the strong stench of marijuana inside the room.
The video cuts off once the teen comes out, and the door is closed again:
“What we are worried about is you having a juvenile in there,” says an officer. “Yeah, this one.”
As Shortey hides behind the door, an officer says, “Come out. Now, you’re getting me worried, show me your hands.”
Shortey is seen opening the door, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Bible verse “Ephesians 5:22” and the words “Now go make me a sandwich.”
The bible verse alludes to women submitting to her husband as she does to God.
“Can you show me that he’s only 17?” Shortey demands.
“I can’t,” an officer replies. “But, I can convince you that he is. I can put you in handcuffs and throw you in the back of car.”
“So, what was going on over here tonight, man?” an officer asks.
“We were just hanging out,” Shortey answers. “Talking about life and stuff we’ve been talking for a few months about. Tomorrow, he told me he was going to get his GED. Couldn’t graduate high school and was trying to get his life on track.”
Though Shortey wasn’t arrested that morning, the incident inspired an investigation that eventually led to his child prostitution charge and subsequent resignation from Oklahoma State Senate.
The charges were dropped after prosecutors charged Shortey with child sex trafficking and child pornography. He pleaded guilty to child sex trafficking and faces between 10 years to life in prison.
“What sense does it make, me lying to you?” an officers says in the footage. “But, listen, whatever you’re doing, it’s a bad [expletive] idea. Does that make sense to you? Getting high, with a young kid, is a bad idea. No matter if they’re 17 or 20. It’s a bad idea. You understand what I’m saying?”
Watch:
h/t: kfor
DCguy
Time for one of Mo Bros screenames to come in here screaming about Hillary Clinton to avoid the reality that most rabidly anti-lgbt bigots are attacking us because they’re usually hiding something sick in their own closets
Brian
At this pointI don’t know why anyone is even bothering to bring up political affiliation with these kinds of stories. It’s been well established that there are horrible predators and hypocrites throughout the entire spectrum. None of our beliefs give us the moral high ground.
James
Brian, perhaps you do not know who this creep is. State senator from Oklahoma who supports the american family association. Who did everything in his power to degrade gay people, to pass harsh laws against them, to make them feel ugly and shameful. His politics were those of anti-gay hate. He deserves no sympathy at all. Gay teenagers kill themselves because of monsters like this.
Brian
Wow, you completely missed my point.
dwes09
He didn’t miss your point at all. He correctly found it ludicrous. There is a huge difference between a politician who does not hold himself up as a paragon of virtue being caught in a peccadillo and a politician who fights against full enfranchisement of gay people being caught with an underage male getting stoned while undressed.
This should not need to be explained to you if you have any sense!
Paco
More proof that the closet is convenient protection for the self-hating gay and bisexual men that want to harm the rest of us that choose to live openly. All of those hypocrites need to be outed the moment they try to work against our equal rights.
cjh007
The age of consent in Oklahoma is 16. Sooooo… How’s it a “child” at 17? I don’t understand… It might be prostitution but 17 is a year above the age of consent for that state.
James
He was involved in child pornography which is why the police tracked him down. He had also been paying underage boys, under the age of 16, for sex. They just happen to find him at the time they arrested him in bed with a 17 year old.
James
I do not care if he is having sex with a consensual young man, but his hypocrisy and support for harsh anti-gay laws and his championing the american family association is SICK. People like him and his hate are one of the reasons gay teenagers commit suicide.
Paco
I’m pretty sure that child sex trafficking includes minors under the age of 18. The 17 year old was offered cash for sexual favors. It wasn’t just a simple hook up so the age of consent isn’t applicable.
He was caught with child porn as well, so you can stop trying to defend him.
cjh007
Oh… I just thought they were harassing him for same-sex activity with someone over the age of consent. Using the ever popular “welfare check” guise is common! That’s how many others call the police on someone to snoop or interrupt a tryst! Straight females stalking gay men are notorious for sending the police on a welfare check! They get jealous when they see him bring home trade and call the law! Hahahaha!
cjh007
@Paco… My point remains the same. It’s not child trafficking when they’re the age of consent it’s just trafficking. Not defending HIM either I was questioning what was illegal about being in a motel room with someone at or above the age of consent! Hustling is a separate issue. The article says “underage boy in hotel room” and the officer said juvenile when the age of consent is 17… That’s not underage. Also, the title says “hotel” when THAT is a motel! Ewwwwww! Hahahaha!
Tobi
It’s probably the prostitution angle, here in the UK the age of consent is 16, but you need to be 18 to appear in pornography, accept cash for favours, etc.
Paco
@cjh007, Even if the age of consent is 16, technically the 17 year old is still considered a minor and under the age to be legally recognized as an adult.
And again, I do not believe there is any age of consent where sex trafficking of minors is concerned.
The headline is accurate.
cjh007
It’s a motel not a hotel… A 17 year old isn’t a child in Oklahoma. That’s not accurate.
cjh007
Regardless, he got caught in his double life… Good!
Paco
Legal age of majority (recognized as an adult) in Oklahoma is 18.
cjh007
16
In Oklahoma, the age of consent is 16, and the law recognizes an age differential of two years. This means that no person can be convicted of rape or rape by instrumentation with anyone over the age of 14, with that person’s consent, unless the defendant was older than 18 at the time the sexual act occurred.
Paco
It doesn’t matter what the age of consent is in this case. Age of consent is the age at which the law allows minors to have sex. They are still considered minors until they reach the age of majority, which is 18 in Oklahoma. There is no age of consent for soliciting minors for sex. It is flat out illegal.
cjh007
Federal trafficking is based on age 18. You see my point tho’… I was on my own with my first apartment at 17. That’s not a child. When I see titles like that which say “child” and it is some 17 year old it’s misleading. Like when someone says they’re taking you to a hotel and yo’ ass ends up at a Super 8 Motel instead! Hahahaha!
cjh007
It matters what the age of consent is because if all the other allegations weren’t present and he was just caught with a 17 year old lover there’d be nothing legally that they could even do about it EXCEPT for the fact that adultery is a felony in Oklahoma! His wife could send police in on a “welfare check” when he didn’t come home THEN press charges once he was caught. As a civil servant they have a morals clause. I just wanted to make sure they weren’t just stalking all old queens with young trade! Hahahaha
cjh007
It’s not religion in itself but how one applies and often misapplies it that’s ultimately at issue. “Jesus loves the children” was never meant the way a pedophile would interpret that passage! Just like guns don’t kill people… People kill people… I see your point tho’ and I’d wonder if historically religion has done more good or bad overall…
Paco
All religions were invented by the primitive human mind that was unable to cope with the complexities of self awareness and existence and its place in the universe. It has since been used to easily manipulate people into sharing the same beliefs as the power hungry hypocrites that wield it.
Hopefully the rest of the species will catch on to the scam at some point. If evolution allows it.
Brian
If we are talking about who isn’t welcome around here, I’d certainly submit for consideration the one note harpy nutjob who seems to be incapable of posting anything without bringing Muslims into the conversation.
mhoffman953
@oddchild1
In fairness, the Bible doesn’t proclaim Jesus as a pedophile. In the Muslim faith, Mohammad is celebrated as a pedophile and marries a 6 year-old, then consummates the marriage when she turns 9 years-old.
cjh007
@Oddchild… Your lil’ thread is as tired as your worn out ass. What do you use for a dildo… A fire hydrant? Worry about THAT along with the myriad of issues you have and project on to others via Queerty because otherwise no one would even bother with you! Awwwww… Does it validate you making inaccurate accusations? You sound like some lil’ thing molested thing that’s been sexually used and abused since childhood that never developed the needed social skills to fully evolve into anything but a bitter little thing that blames everything /everyone but itself for its pathetic existence which is not based on any religious or other oppression but is reflective of core issues in it’s character or lack thereof! Awwwww… Would you like me to show you how with just your screen name on Queerty I can pay $200 on the deep/dark web and have your computer/smartphone hacked and crashed to help you learn how to watch your stinking mouth? Gurl… I’ve got the Velvet Mafia on speed dial… Keep barking in the wrong direction!
cjh007
@Oddchild… The age of consent is what it is. A 17 year old is not a damn child. Having sex with someone who is pubescent and of legal age is not pedophilia. You’re just angry because you were wrong about the age of consent in Oklahoma… Felt you needed to try to validate your self after you got corrected! I couldn’t care less what you think but as you dance near the cold waters of slander know I’ll get you shut up legally or otherwise. I’m going to post your address to let you know I’m not playing with you… I’ll get your mobile phone cut off…
cjh007
@Oddchild… Your just some of the lowlife trash that litters the gay community! I pity you and hope the garbage truck comes along soon.
cjh007
My point remains the same for those capable of civil debate…. Religion like anything else is subject to how others use it in their lives. There are those whom participate in a completely healthy manner which gives them direction, meaning, and comfort and those whom use it to try to control and otherwise exploit others. Others make the same sweeping generalizations about the gay/alternative lifestyles and are no more accurate. Religion is literally often one of the few things that reinforces civil laws and is a cornerstone of civilization. So I’m just saying (as someone who’s entire childhood was wasted in a right-wing Christian cult to only to leave at 16/17) it’s not the religion but how some they to interpret and apply it to intrude on the lives and human rights of others that’s truly at issue.
cjh007
Pardon the misspellings and other grammatic errors… This shit is distracting me from something truly important (online shopping) and has only part of my focus. Also, not used to things actually talking shit to me like that… I get that handled!
cjh007
@Oddchild… Super busy with my man of 20+ years, paid off house/car and shopping… Since you want to try to touch my personal life you could never afford it otherwise be part of… However, I’m an occultist and ultimately I only care about consent and puberty in the definition of what is truly pedophilia. That’s nature’s determination. Whatever lil’ issues you have with age (probably based on how either young or old none of them want you… Got a man? Alone? Awwwww…) in relation to consenting pubescent adults is your problem. I’m on the age of consent and not caught up in a rejection based vilification of age differences. That’s usually old queens no one even wants anymore screaming about the younger models coming up on them and beating them out for what few men there are… Men that have had them and they couldn’t keep due to their inadequacies as people. The larger world I interact in with its even lower ages of consent sees it differently. Older men have been buying me apartments, cars, clothes, trips and other things since I hit the street at 17 for 30+ years all while simultaneously having successful careers. I was grown then and that’s how I look at any I throw crumbs at and party with now too! Your sorry ass is talking about it like it’s about relationships when ladies like me are merely horseback riding… The enthusiasm and stamina of teens/20 somethings is a whole other matter! The only “nerve you touched” is a matter of common courtesy. I don’t initiate interactions in that manner. However, that’s a class issue. We’re done. I’ve spent more time on you than you’ll ever be worth to me or apparently anyone else. Anyone else seen the new magnetic clip on false eyelashes?!? My drag act needs those! Just ordered! @Oddchild… No one wants you tho’… That’s the real issue or you’d be too busy to attempt personal attacks on strangers… I couldn’t care less what you think as you’re nothing and no one… Byeeeeeee!!! ROFL!
Brian
I’m not defending anyone sweetie, I’m just pointing out how annoying and pathetic you are. Learn the difference.
Khiso
Something you describe is amazing. Reiboot Crack
jjunke
Can’t stand these hypocritical religious right wing Republicans, but seriously, 17 yo, a boy? a ‘child’ ? a ‘pedophile? Laughable.