Misty Roberts is a former American politician who served as the first female mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana. She gained international public attention after being convicted of felony sex crimes involving a 16-year-old boy a case that featured her own children testifying against her and for her tearful courtroom apology stating, “What an embarrassment I’ve been to this city” .
Quick Facts
Full Name: Misty Roberts
Age: 44 (born c. 1982)
Nationality: American
Occupation: Former Mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana
Known For: First female mayor of DeRidder; convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile
Marital Status: Divorced (Duncan Clanton)
Children: Two
Early Life and Background
Misty Roberts was a resident of DeRidder, a small city of approximately 9,800 residents in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana . Prior to her political career, she worked in municipal government. In 2018, she made history by becoming the first woman ever elected mayor of DeRidder . She won reelection in 2022 with 60 percent of the vote, securing a second term . Colleagues and supporters once regarded her as a dedicated public servant who helped navigate the city through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Career and Achievements
Roberts served as Mayor of DeRidder from March 24, 2018, until her resignation on July 27, 2024 . During her tenure, she focused on infrastructure improvements and community development. However, her political career came to an abrupt and scandalous end when she hosted what would become the infamous July 2024 pool party at her home.
Major Event and Controversy
On July 20-21, 2024, Roberts hosted a birthday party for her son at her home, providing alcohol to teenage attendees and drinking alongside them . At the party, Roberts then 42 years old had sex with a 16-year-old boy who was her son’s friend. The encounter occurred in an upstairs game room.
The crime was discovered when Roberts’ own children witnessed the act through a crack in a window and began photographing it . In a forensic interview, Roberts’ son told investigators he saw his mother having sex with his friend. Her daughter testified she saw her mother and the teenager “on top of each other” .
Text messages introduced at trial showed the Roberts’ son texting his mother warnings during the party, including “He is 17” (the victim was actually 16) . Another message read: “That’s effing crazy. [Roberts’ daughter] is crying” .
Roberts resigned as mayor on July 27, 2024, days before her arrest. She was initially charged with third-degree rape but was ultimately convicted of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile both felonies on March 3, 2026, after a jury deliberated for less than an hour .
Sentencing and Apology
On June 9, 2026, Judge Kent Savoie sentenced Roberts to 90 days in jail, along with two suspended five-year sentences . She was also ordered to pay a $5,000 fine, register as a Tier 1 sex offender, undergo psychological therapy, and submit to random drug and alcohol testing. The victim’s mother called Roberts a “predator” who wore “hair extensions, high heels, Botox and other augmentations” .
Before sentencing, Roberts tearfully addressed the court: “What an embarrassment I’ve been to this city. I’ve made a mess of all of this. I blamed myself that day, I blame myself today, and I will blame myself for the rest of my life” . She admitted she had asked others to lie about the incident because she feared losing custody of her children.
Why She Is In the News
Roberts is in the news following her June 2026 sentencing, which concluded a nearly two-year legal saga that shocked the small Louisiana community. The leniency of the 90-day sentence far below the maximum 17 years prosecutors sought has sparked public outrage, with critics questioning whether her status as a former public official influenced Judge Savoie’s decision .
Conclusion
Misty Roberts was a groundbreaking mayor whose legacy is now permanently stained by a predatory sexual crime against a minor. Convicted by a jury in under an hour and caught largely through the testimony of her own children, her dramatic fall from civic leader to registered sex offender serves as a cautionary tale of how quickly public trust can be shattered and a political career destroyed.
