Ex-DeRidder mayor Misty Roberts gets 90 days

Former DeRidder mayor Misty Roberts, 44, was sentenced to 90 days in jail after being convicted in connection with sexual conduct involving a 16-year-old boy while she was mayor. The court also ordered a $5,000 fine, regular drug screenings, and psychological

DE RIDDER, La. — The courtroom was still when Misty Roberts looked at Judge Kent Savoie and took responsibility for what she had done.

She was sentenced to 90 days in jail for carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile. both felonies. tied to an incident involving a 16-year-old boy while she was mayor of DeRidder. Roberts, 44, was convicted earlier this month, with the jury returning guilty verdicts on March 3. Under Louisiana law, the charges carry up to 17 years, but there is no minimum sentence.

The judge’s sentence also includes a $5,000 fine. When Roberts is released, she will be subject to regular drug screenings and ordered to undergo psychotropic and psychological therapy. She also received two five-year suspended sentences, which will be served concurrently unless she breaks parole stipulations.

Right after the ruling, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office website showed Roberts as released. Sheriff Mark Herford said she was being transferred because the facility cannot house women for extended periods.

Roberts’ case did not move quietly to the sentencing. Less than two weeks earlier, her attorneys asked for a new trial, pointing to reasons including alleged inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony. Judge Savoie denied the motion.

Roberts had walked free after her conviction due to a stipulation of her bond. Her sentencing was originally scheduled for April 17, but the defense asked for it to be delayed. She also was required to register as a sex offender.

In court for sentencing, Roberts addressed Judge Savoie directly, expressing remorse and speaking in terms of long-term regret. “I blame myself then. I blame myself today. and I will blame myself for the rest of my life. ” Roberts said. “I let a lot of people down, and I am the only person responsible for that.”.

She described July 20, the date of the incident, as hitting “the absolute floor.” And when she spoke about what she had done and the fallout, she said, “What an embarrassment I’ve been to this city. I’ve made a mess of all of this, but it certainly was not my intent.”

Roberts told the court she feared losing her children, saying she asked others to lie about what happened. “I feared that day that he would leave and take my children and I’d never see them again,” Roberts said, referring to her ex-husband, Duncan Clanton.

Her remarks closed with an appeal built around motherhood. “I don’t have to move mountains. I didn’t have to shake the world. I just had to cook dinner,” Roberts said. “I just want to be their mom. I’m here just asking for grace and mercy and the opportunity to do what the Lord has asked me to do. which is be a mom.”.

She also addressed the victim’s family. “To the [victim’s] family, I am sorry. I can’t give back the high school days… I can’t take away the embarrassment that so many mean people on the internet have put them through.”

The defense’s argument at sentencing came against a backdrop of statements from prosecutors and family members who described the case’s real-world toll. Holly Jones. speaking on behalf of her husband and her son. who is one of the victim’s friends. said the case pulled their family into proceedings when their son was only 14. “At only 14 years old, our son was planted in the middle of an adult criminal case,” Jones told the court.

Jones said that instead of a normal high school experience, her son was drawn into “years of court hearings, media, and delays,” and she asked the court to consider the impact on victims and families.

The victim’s mother offered a sharper picture of the night and its aftermath. She began by describing it as “A simple birthday party. A gathering of friends and family. The kind of night that should have ended in laughter and memories.”

She said the danger did not arrive disguised. “This predator was not hiding in a van carrying candy or a puppy. This danger came from a predator with hair extensions, high heels, Botox, and other modifications.”

She said the pain did not end with the incident or with the trial. turning toward Roberts and her attorneys as she accused them of misrepresenting what happened. “The attorneys you hired claimed we put your kids on the stand. Oh no, Miss, that’s you. My heart broke for all the kids that we forced to relive that night.” She said pointedly. “Your team flat-out lied and was very disrespectful throughout this trial.”.

In her account, the public nature of the case bled into daily life. She said she found her son sitting alone in his room for hours at a time and hearing crying during the night. and she described milestones arriving with a shadow. “Every social event carried questions no teenager should have to ask,” she said. “Half of his high school experience was taken from him.”.

She also recounted a moment at a baseball game when, she said, a man yelled a derogatory phrase at her son while he was up to bat, illustrating what she described as the case’s broader public toll.

Her closing message was directed at Roberts: “Stay the hell away from my family.”

Assistant District Attorney Charles Robinson asked for a maximum sentence and opened with a blunt framing: “We’re talking about an elected public official who had sex with a child at a children’s birthday party,” Robinson said, noting the party was for a child turning 15.

Robinson argued Roberts’ remorse was not genuine. pointing to a text message in which Roberts appeared to confirm the sexual encounter took place. contradicting her claims of having no memory of the incident. “When she says ‘I was victimized,’ it’s laughable to think that it’s consistent with accountability,” Robinson said.

The prosecutor also challenged the defense’s expert witness, a clinical psychologist retained to evaluate Roberts’ likelihood of reoffending. Robinson said the psychologist had not been provided with a key photo at the center of the case. depicting Roberts on top of the victim. before writing her report. Robinson also accused the psychologist of dodging direct questions on the stand about how the conviction factored into her findings.

Robinson said the state asked for the maximum sentence of 17 years.

Defense attorney Adam Johnson argued for a different outcome. saying Roberts took responsibility and that the court should not be steered by public pressure. “We are not guided by what angry people on Facebook or news stories will think about it,” Johnson said. “The noise stops at those courtroom doors.”.

Johnson returned to sentencing in terms of timing and the law. telling Judge Savoie that the case was close to a date when. he said. the situation would have changed legally. “The fact that this case was a couple of months away from not being a crime is a valid point to me. Judge. ” Johnson said. He repeated the argument later. saying. “Less than two months and it would have been massively inappropriate but not a crime.”.

Johnson said the state’s request for the maximum sentence was excessive and cruel. “She’s not a predator. There is no evidence of that,” Johnson said.

He argued under the law Roberts should receive a suspended sentence with therapy and continued sex offender registration, adding, “If you give her a suspended sentence, you’re not going to get as many likes.”

Johnson also pleaded with the judge not to separate Roberts from her children.

Roberts’ expert, clinical psychologist Dr. Sasha Lambert. testified that Roberts had less than a 3% chance of reoffending. and Lambert said that figure is universal among women. with Roberts potentially scoring even lower. Lambert also testified that on the night of the incident. Roberts was experiencing a mental health crisis. had a documented alcohol problem. and showed signs of mood decompensation. Under questioning, Lambert acknowledged that Roberts did not fully recognize or accept what she had been convicted of.

Lambert said what she gathered came from several interviews and tests conducted by Lambert on Roberts post-conviction.

Just after the judge handed down the sentence, Prosecutor Robinson asked that Roberts be immediately drug tested. He accused her of using narcotics during the last court hearings, claiming she had sores on her mouth. Judge Savoie denied that request after Johnson said he found it incredulous. describing it as another attempt by Robinson to target Johnson and Todd Clemons’ client.

Looking ahead, Roberts is eligible for an appeal bond set at $75,000 per charge, $150,000 total. Her attorneys said she will not pursue it. Roberts will serve her 90 days in jail, and upon release she will be required to undergo regular drug screenings and psychological therapy.

Her two five-year suspended sentences remain in place and can be activated if she violates the terms of her release. Roberts will remain a registered sex offender.

Misty Roberts DeRidder mayor 90 days jail carnal knowledge of a juvenile indecent behavior with a juvenile sex offender registration Judge Kent Savoie Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford Beauregard Parish District Attorney James Lestage