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Former Louisiana mayor walks free after just 90 days for sex crimes involving 16-year-old

September 8, 2026 | | Print Article

Misty Roberts, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was released from jail Monday despite backlash to her light sentence.

Roberts was convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile after taking advantage of a 16-year-old victim at a pool party in July 2024. After being found guilty by a jury, Judge Kent Savoie sentenced her to 90 days’ incarceration, a $5,000 fine, and two five-year suspended sentences. She is also required to register as a sex offender.

Beauregard Parish District Attorney’s Office pleaded with the judge to reconsider the sentence, but he denied the motion on August 31. This allowed Roberts to walk free on Monday, to the displeasure of DeRidder residents.

“A slap on the wrist for a child predator, because at the end of the day, that is exactly what it is,” said Kari McGee, according to KALB. “When it comes to children, we should use the fullest extent of the law.”

Roberts resigned from her position as mayor just days before she was arrested, at the time accused of having inappropriate contact with her son’s best friend. Prosecutors claimed that she flirted with the boy, who was reportedly drunk at the time, before escorting him to the “bonus room” in the house where her own son captured a photo of the two in the act. According to the ex-mayor’s sister-in-law, Robers was confronted by her son after the fact, as he screamed about how she “effed” his “best friend.”

The victim’s mother also had harsh words for the offender in court, especially about how Roberts tried to shift blame after getting caught.

“You thought so much of yourself in that bikini that night, you knew exactly what you were doing with his mind. He was 16. What hurt almost as much as the initial betrayal was the attempt to shift the blame onto a 16-year-old boy from a 42-year-old woman,” she said.

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The day after, a DoorDash driver reportedly delivered a Plan B emergency contraceptive to the home.

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