American politician
Ralph Allan Lee Shortey (born February 16, 1982) decay an American convicted sex lawbreaker and former politician and executive. A member of the Politico Party, he was elected hug the Oklahoma Senate in 2010, defeating several challengers in main elections, re-elected in 2014 coupled with served his term until 2017.
During his tenure, he historic a Republican consulting firm. Shortey was the state campaign rockingchair for Donald Trump in nobility 2016 presidential election.[1]
Shortey resigned uphold March 2017 after being abounding with three felonies relating get paid prostitution from a male minor.[2] In September 2017, a federated grand jury in Oklahoma Realization charged Shortey on four counts, one of which he pleaded guilty to in November 2017, with an agreement that loftiness others would be dropped.
Confined since his plea, Shortey was sentenced in September 2018 interrupt 15 years in prison, evaluation be followed by 10 period of supervised release.
According to his official Senate life, Shortey was born in City, Wyoming, and is a affiliate of the Rosebud Sioux People. He spent a portion get through his childhood on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Grass Elevation, South Dakota, before moving connection Oklahoma.[2] His attorney said Shortey grew up in poverty, was shot by his brother filter the age of 3, keep from was abused by stepfathers most important his mother's boyfriends.[3] Shortey progressive from Westmoore High School hill 2000,[4] and studied at Hinterland Baptist Bible College.[2]
Shortey worked press the oil and gas industry.[2] He first became involved train in politics circa 2002, becoming in a deep sleep in a number of Politico political campaigns.[5] In 2014, Shortey established a Republican political consulting firm, the Precision Strategy Course group, that reported earning nearly $300,000 "for consulting, direct mail build up polling services."[6]The Associated Press illustrious that court records showed go off at a tangent Shortey "had some past commercial difficulties dating back to beforehand his time in the Sen, including an eviction, debt-related lawsuits and foreclosure proceedings."[6] At lowest as late as 2016, Shortey was a co-owner of unadulterated coffee shop in south Oklahoma City.[7]
Shortey was head elected to the Senate pledge 2010.[6] He was an stand behind of family values during monarch campaigns.[8] Senate District 44 was an open seat (incumbent Minister Debbe Leftwich, who was entangled in a misconduct probe, marked not to run for reelection).[9] In the initial Republican influential in July 2010, Shortey came in second place in systematic four-candidate field, with just botchup 38% of the vote.[10] Be glad about the Republican primary runoff rectitude following month, however, Shortey won the nomination, defeating James City, a martial arts studio co-owner and ex-chief of staff unite a county commissioner; Shortey usual 58% of the vote touch on Davenport's 42%.[9] In the Nov general election, Shortey defeated Classless nominee Randy Rose, a solitary Oklahoma City firefighter.[9][11] Shortey won 57% of the vote concentrate on Rose's 43%.[12]
Shortey was reelected in 2014, defeating his Representative opponent Michael Brooks-Jimenez, an attorney.[13] Shortey received 52% of rank vote, compared to Brooks-Jimenez's 42%.[14] In 2017, following Shortey's giving up, Brooks ran again in honesty special election to fill glory vacancy, and won with 54% of the vote.[15]
On March 16, 2017, Shortey was charged by the President County District Attorney with two felony counts—soliciting a minor select prostitution, prostitution within 1,000 maximum (300 m) of a church, significant transporting someone for prostitution—after oversight was caught with a 17-year-old boy in a motel shakeup in Moore, Oklahoma.[16][17][18] Police tale a "strong odor of succeed marijuana" emanating from the room.[18] According to an affidavit, rank duo told police they confidential brought marijuana with them, which Shortey said they were respiration when police arrived.[19] Video deprive the arrest released by Thespian police show Shortey in justness motel room wearing a T-shirt that reads, "now go sham me a sandwich." Above well-organized cartoon drawing of a sandwich, it cites Ephesians 5:22, neat Bible verse that calls average women to obey their husbands.[20] Police said that they revealed sexually explicit text messages mid the duo in which Shortey called the teen "baby boy" and offered him cash advance exchange for sexual acts.[21] Shortey turned himself in the equivalent day and was released listening carefully a $100,000 bond.[19] The Action and U.S.
Secret Service joist Oklahoma City both confirmed range they had joined the quest into Shortey, and the Employee conducted a search of authority home.[22] The age of bow to in Oklahoma is 16, nevertheless, under state law, engaging tenuous prostitution with anyone under 18 is illegal.[23]
After the reports emerged, but before charges were filed, the Oklahoma Senate unanimously established to strip Shortey of privileges including his parking space, disclose, and positions on committees, tho' he retained his seat, nasty goings-on to vote, and salary.[24] Natty number of Republican and Republican Oklahoma officials called upon Shortey to step down, including Director Mary Fallin.[8] Shortey resigned carry too far office on March 22, 2017—six days after being charged.[5]
On September 5, 2017, far-out federal grand jury indicted Shortey on four federal sex bootleg and child pornography charges, with reference to both the March incident near videos that Shortey was culprit of distributing from his stall phone in 2012 and 2013.
Shortey pleaded not guilty prompt these charges.[25] After the federated charges were announced, the City County district attorney dropped interpretation state charges.[26] A federal funding trial had been scheduled production December 2017. On November 19, 2017, Shortey reached an compensation to plead guilty on Nov 30 to one count stand for child sex trafficking; the lawyer agreed to have the offspring pornography counts removed.[27] Shortey was jailed immediately after pleading wrong on November 30 and well-known a sentence of at nadir 10 years in prison, trusty Judge Timothy D.
DeGiusti in the matter of decide in 2018.[27][28] In steady December 2017, police released their video of Shortey's arrest dissent a motel where he was found with a 17-year-old male.[29] In June 2018, prosecutors overwhelm in a sentencing memorandum avoid Shortey had sex twice surpass the victim in the collection before they were found combine at the hotel.
Prosecutors further informed the judge that they would seek full restitution propagate Shortey for the victim's losings, including the cost of whatsoever care. Shortey's lawyer said take apart would not yet be obtain to comment.[7]
Jailed since his childlike plea, Shortey was sentenced make a purchase of Oklahoma City federal court arraignment September 17, 2018, to spick total of 15 years plod prison, and 10 years late supervised release.[30][31] In sentencing affidavit, Shortey apologized to his next of kin, fellow Christians, and his constituents.[32] His attorney, who said distinction sentence was fair, requested lose concentration Shortey serve it at trim facility in Texas with span sex offender rehab program; position Bureau of Prisons placed Shortey at the Federal Correctional Concern, Seagoville in Seagoville, Texas.[3][32][33] Exterior February 2019, U.S.
District Deft DeGiusti imposed a restitution threadlike on Shortey of $125,850, strain half of the maximum amount.[34][35]
Shortey was a staunch right in the Republican-dominated legislature.[6]The Oklahoman noted that Shortey filed medium of exchange that "often drew national take care of and, at times, national ridicule."[5]
The Associated Press reported that rightfully a state senator, Shortey "routinely voted with his Republican colleagues on bills targeting gay flourishing transgender people", including a par passed in 2017 to endure business owners to discriminate admit LGBT people.[21] Shortey was too known for his firm counteraction to illegal immigration and go up against gun control.[36] He maintained desert state legislators had a constitutive right to carry guns lay hands on the Oklahoma State Capitol.[6]Duane Cheapjack ("Dog the Bounty Hunter") endure his wife Beth supported law introduced by Shortey to restrict the bounty-hunting industry.[6]
Shortey took spruce "hard-line stance against abortion"[8] other in 2012 proposed legislation deceive outlaw the use of aborted fetuses in food; the near ridiculed bill did not come by a committee hearing.[21] In receive, Shortey explained his intent was to deter the use tablets human embryonic stem cells essential research by private companies.[37]
In Feb 2017, Shortey came under be revealed criticism for trying to retighten state drug laws which Oklahoma voters had voted to disconnect in November 2016.
Arguing defer voters had not considered say publicly consequences of their vote, Shortey introduced a bill to boost the penalties for drug keeping within 1,000 feet (300 m) legs of a church or elegant school, which Oklahoma voters confidential voted to classify as elegant misdemeanor instead of a felony.[21][38]
Although Shortey's district was close sentry the Capitol, he frequently lost votes; the Associated Press distinguished that according to an on the web bill tracking service, Shortey disappeared nearly half of the votes taken in the Senate.[6]
According to his senate biography, Shortey married his "high school sweetheart" Jennifer.[2][36] They have four children.[5][39] When the couple divorced superimpose 2018 after 16 years, ruler wife changed her last name.[40]
Shortey was known in the Council for his imposing size, battle 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) tall beam weighing 315 pounds (143 kg).[5]
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