Misty Roberts, former Mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was released from custody on Monday, September 2026, after serving 90 days behind bars. Her release marks the completion of the jail portion of a 10-year suspended sentence, following her conviction for sex offenses involving a 16-year-old boy. The decision to release Roberts came days after a judge denied prosecutors' attempts to impose a more severe punishment.
"When it comes to children, we should use the fullest extent of the law. There are no excuses when it comes to our children." Kari McGee, DeRidder Resident
Roberts, aged 44, was found guilty in March 2026 of indecent behavior and carnal knowledge of a minor. The conviction followed a week-long trial that drew significant local attention. As part of her sentence, she is also required to pay a $5,000 fine and $300 in prosecution costs. Additionally, Roberts is prohibited from contacting the victim or his family and must register as a Tier 1 sex offender.
The case originated from a pool party Roberts hosted on July 20, 2024, while she was still serving as DeRidder's mayor. Prosecutors presented evidence during the trial alleging that Roberts supplied alcohol at the gathering and engaged in flirtatious behavior with her son’s 16-year-old friend before leading him into a spare room. Roberts' own teenage children became crucial witnesses in the investigation, reportedly discovering their mother with the boy. A cellphone photograph taken by another child at the party was later admitted as evidence and presented to the jury.
During the trial, defense attorney Adam Johnson acknowledged that the photograph depicting Roberts with the teenager appeared damaging. However, he argued that the image itself did not conclusively prove a sex crime had occurred. Johnson further attributed his client's behavior, in part, to alcohol abuse and personal difficulties she faced following her 2022 divorce. "It would not have happened without alcohol," Johnson stated during sentencing arguments, suggesting Roberts was attempting to be the "cool parent" in the aftermath of her marriage dissolution. Despite the defense's arguments, jurors deliberated for less than an hour before returning a guilty verdict. The 16-year-old victim also provided testimony during the proceedings regarding his experience.
The relatively short 90-day jail term, part of a suspended 10-year sentence, sparked criticism from some residents of DeRidder. Many expressed the belief that the punishment should have been significantly harsher given the nature of the crime. Kari McGee, a DeRidder resident, conveyed this sentiment to KALB following the sentencing, stating, "When it comes to children, we should use the fullest extent of the law. There are no excuses when it comes to our children." Prosecutors had subsequently sought to increase the severity of Roberts' punishment, but the judge ultimately declined to modify the original sentence.
Roberts made history in DeRidder in 2018 when she became the city’s first female mayor, a position she was reelected to in 2022. Her political career, however, came to an abrupt end shortly after the pool party incident. Roberts resigned from office in August 2024, weeks before her subsequent arrest. Court filings cited by the Daily Mail indicate that Roberts' two children have resided with her former husband, Duncan Clanton, since December 2024.
With the completion of her jail term, Roberts has been released, though the remaining conditions of her suspended sentence, including the fine, prohibition of contact, and sex offender registration, continue to apply. Her release closes a chapter in a case that saw a once-celebrated local politician face a criminal conviction and the subsequent public scrutiny.
