44-year-old Misty Roberts, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after being convicted of felony counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Roberts’ convictions were related to a July 2024 pool party at her home while she was the mayor. During the trial in March, the jury heard that she and a 16-year-old boy had been “drinking alcohol heavily”.
The boy told the jury (via a report from KPLC) he’d gotten so drunk he’d vomited, then said Robert “flirted” by telling him he “looked good”, winked at him, and danced on him. He said she took a photograph of him, which was presented to the jury. After they kissed, the pair went upstairs to a bedroom where they had sex.
Disgraced mayor Misty Roberts dodges hefty prison sentence as victim's mom torches her: 'This predator has hair extensions, high heels, Botox' https://t.co/GgRasvnBm3 pic.twitter.com/ksYe9P5kkf
— New York Post (@nypost) June 9, 2026
Jurors reportedly deliberated for less than an hour before returning a guilty verdict. At sentencing, the victim’s family delivered an impact statement:
“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. … Every social event carried questions no teenager should have to ask … Half of his high school experience was taken from him. … “Stay the hell away from my family.”
The victim’s mother also said she’d hear her son crying alone in his bedroom at night.
The maximum sentence available was 17 years in prison, though the judge imposed a prison sentence of just 90 days. Roberts will also have to register as a sex offender, pay $5,000 in fines, have mandatory drug screenings, and undergo psychotropic and psychological therapy upon release.
She also received two five-year suspended sentences, to be served concurrently unless she violates parole.
“I let a lot of people down”
Roberts addressed the court, saying: “I blame myself then, I blame myself today, and I will blame myself for the rest of my life … I let a lot of people down, and I am the only person responsible for that.”
She also addressed 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.”
Roberts, who lists herself without a party affiliation (meaning she is neither a Republican nor a Democrat) resigned as mayor the day after the complaint against her was lodged. She has been succeeded by the city’s first Black mayor, local pastor Michael D. Harris.
