Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts Found Guilty on Both Felony Counts: Faces Up to 17 Years in Prison
Justice came swiftly in Beauregard Parish. A DeRidder jury has found Misty Roberts guilty of having sex with a minor at a 2024 house party while she was mayor. The verdict, delivered Tuesday, March 3, 2026 ET, ended a trial that featured explosive testimony, a DoorDash Plan B delivery, a confession to an ex-husband, and photographic evidence that the prosecution called self-explanatory. Sentencing is set for April 17, and Misty Roberts now faces up to 17 years behind bars.
The Verdict: Guilty on Both Felony Charges
Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts was found guilty Tuesday on felony charges of indecent behavior with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile following a six-day trial in the 36th Judicial District Court of Beauregard Parish. The six-person jury returned its verdicts after deliberating for just over an hour.
Carnal knowledge of a juvenile carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, while indecent behavior carries a sentence of up to seven years. She will be required to register as a Tier 1 sex offender. As emotions ran through the courtroom when the verdict was read, the victim's mother first gasped and then began to cry.
What Happened the Night of the Party: The Victim's Testimony
Witnesses testified that Roberts provided alcohol to her teenage son, nephew, and their friends during a July 2024 birthday party before having sex with one of their friends. Roberts got drunk at her teenage son's birthday party before disappearing to an upstairs game room with a 16-year-old boy.
The victim testified Tuesday that he was drunk when Roberts told him he looked good, winked at him, danced with him, took a photo with him, grabbed him, and kissed him. He said he felt dizzy and strange, and when Roberts said they should not continue kissing outside, he asked if they could go upstairs. He testified that they had sex upstairs in the game room, and it was not until afterward that he realized what was happening.
After the incident was discovered, Roberts' son confronted her and yelled at her, saying it was her fault. The victim testified that Roberts tried to get her son to fight him instead — attempting to shift the blame entirely. He said he eventually walked out to his truck and sat there, shell-shocked.
The Evidence That Sealed the Case: DoorDash, Photos, and a Confession
The prosecution built a layered evidentiary case that left the jury little room to doubt. Text messages between Roberts and her nephew the day after the incident indicate she was "scared to death." A DoorDash driver testified that he delivered Plan B emergency contraceptive for a customer named Misty to her address a few days before her arrest.
Duncan Clanton, Roberts' ex-husband, testified that she told him directly that she had sex with the 16-year-old boy, and that they were caught in the act. The prosecution also showed the jury a photo from the night of the party, in which Roberts is seen in a bikini with the teen, along with a lewd photograph at the center of the trial showing the victim and Roberts together, obscured by furniture.
Prosecution's Closing Argument: A Picture Worth a Thousand Words
Assistant District Attorney Charles Robinson opened his closing argument by saying: "I told y'all at the beginning of the trial that a lewd and lascivious photo is worth a thousand words. Here, you have it." Robinson then walked the jury through rapid-fire exhibits of evidence that he said showed both lewd and lascivious actions and proof that Misty Roberts had sex with a teenager.
One of the two alternate jurors who did not take part in deliberations told the American Press that the case had been clear from the start. "The evidence presented even early on was pretty indicative of her guilt. The points that stood out to me the most were the Plan B emergency contraceptive DoorDash order and the victim's testimony," the alternate juror said.
Misty Roberts Remains Free on Bond Until April 17 Sentencing
Despite the guilty verdict, Misty Roberts walked out of the Beauregard Parish Courthouse a free woman — at least temporarily. Roberts is allowed to remain released on bond while she awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for April 17. Judge Savoie instructed Roberts' legal team to provide written proof that her previous bond would be reaffirmed after the conviction. "I am granting this because I do not believe she is a flight risk," Savoie stated in court. "She has family here in town, and she has been present through all of this court's proceedings."
State prosecutor Charles Robinson opposed the judge's decision and said in court it was the state's wish that Roberts be remanded into custody immediately following her conviction.
A Long Road to Conviction: Mistrial, Delays, and Appeals Court Battles
The case ended in a mistrial earlier in 2026 and faced further delays when the Third Circuit Court of Appeal stayed jury selection while it considered three defense requests. The appeals court denied all three requests, however, and jury selection resumed before opening statements began on February 26, 2026.
Roberts resigned from her elected position as DeRidder mayor a few days before her arrest in 2024. Judge Kent Savoie presided over the trial as an ad hoc district judge because of the recusals of the other district judges. With sentencing set for April 17 and a mandatory sex offender registration now locked in regardless of the prison term assigned, the case against the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana is all but closed.
