Misty Roberts, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was released after serving a 90-day jail term following convictions for carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a minor tied to a July 2024 party. In June, Judge Kent Savoie sentenced her to 90 days, a $5,000 fine and two five-year suspended sentences — a decision that drew criticism from residents and prosecutors seeking harsher punishment. Roberts expressed remorse at sentencing, and reports say her two children have lived with her ex-husband since December 2024. The case drew further attention because her brother received a lengthy prison term last November for separate rape convictions.
Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts Freed After Serving 90-Day Sentence in Teen Sex Assault Case
Louisiana State Police
Misty Roberts, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was released from custody after completing a 90-day jail term tied to convictions for sexual offenses involving a minor.
Case Background
Roberts, 44, resigned as mayor in August 2024 shortly before her arrest. A jury convicted her in March of carnal knowledge of a juvenile (commonly known as statutory rape) and indecent behavior with a minor related to an incident at a party held at her home in July 2024.
Sentence
In June, Judge Kent Savoie sentenced Roberts to 90 days in jail, ordered a $5,000 fine and imposed two five-year suspended sentences. The charges originally carried the potential for a much longer term — up to 17 years — but the court imposed the shorter punishment.
Community And Prosecutor Reaction
The sentence prompted strong criticism from residents and prosecutors who argued it was too lenient given the nature of the convictions. "When it comes to children, we should use the fullest extent of the law," local resident Kari McGee told reporters.
Duncan Clanton/Facebook
Prosecutors requested a tougher sentence at a late-August hearing, but Judge Savoie declined to modify the punishment.
Roberts' Statement And Family Details
"I blame myself then, I blame myself today, and I will blame myself for the rest of my life," Roberts told the court at her June sentencing, adding that she accepted responsibility and had let many people down.
Reports say Roberts' two children have been living with her ex-husband, Duncan Clanton, since December 2024.
Related Family Case
The situation has drawn additional attention because Roberts' brother, Brandon Lee Roberts, 40, was sentenced last November to 32 years in prison after convictions for raping two young women, one of whom was 13 when the abuse began.
This article summarizes the publicly reported court proceedings and reactions surrounding Roberts' conviction, sentencing and release.
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