Louisiana mayor convicted in juvenile misconduct case
On March 3, 2026, a jury in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana found former DeRidder mayor Misty Roberts guilty on felony charges related to misconduct involving a minor. The case concerned an incident that occurred in 2024 at Roberts’ residence in DeRidder while she was serving as mayor. Jurors returned a verdict after a short deliberation period, convicting Roberts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile under Louisiana state law.
According to testimony presented during the trial, prosecutors stated that Roberts engaged in sexual activity with a 16-year-old male during a gathering at her home. Witnesses at the party testified that alcohol was present and that the teenager appeared intoxicated during the event. Several individuals present at the gathering confirmed that they saw Roberts and the minor together during the evening, although they did not witness the encounter itself.
Additional evidence introduced by prosecutors included photographs taken at the gathering and testimony from a food delivery driver who stated that emergency contraception was delivered to the residence after the incident. Following the verdict, the court scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. Under Louisiana law, the conviction for carnal knowledge of a juvenile carries a possible prison sentence of up to ten years, while indecent behavior with a juvenile carries a potential sentence of up to seven years. The conviction also requires registration under Louisiana’s sex offender registry system.
