Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts Convicted After Shocking Trial Revelations: Text Messages and Family Testimony Seal Guilty Verdict
DeRidder, Louisiana — A Beauregard Parish jury took less than an hour to deliver a guilty verdict against former Mayor Misty Roberts, 43, on March 3, 2026, finding her guilty of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile—both serious felonies. The charges stem from an alleged sexual encounter with a 16-year-old boy, a close friend of her teenage son, during a raucous pool party at her home in July 2024.
The week-long trial in the 36th Judicial District Court laid bare a series of disturbing events. Prosecutors argued that Roberts, then in her second term as mayor, supplied alcohol to underage attendees, leading to heavy intoxication among the teens. The victim testified that he became severely drunk, vomiting at one point, yet Roberts allegedly flirted with him by the pool before taking him upstairs for the encounter.
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Key evidence included explosive family testimony. Roberts’ own son described witnessing the act through a window crack, confronting his mother in fury. In a recorded interview played for jurors, he recounted seeing his mother engaged in sexual activity with his best friend. Her daughter also testified, recalling seeing the pair “on top of each other.” Roberts’ ex-husband reportedly heard her confess directly to the incident.
Prosecutors presented frantic text messages sent by Roberts in the aftermath. She exchanged messages with the victim’s mother, who inquired about pregnancy risks; Roberts replied she was on birth control but insisted the encounter was brief. She then shared a screenshot of the conversation in a group chat with friends, who advised her to take emergency contraception. A DoorDash driver testified to delivering Plan B to the home shortly after.
Additional damning details emerged from friends and witnesses. One close associate reportedly urged teens involved to “lie ’til you die” if questioned. Text exchanges showed Roberts panicking, texting her ex-husband that she had “f—ked up” and expressing fear of the situation escalating.
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Party photos shown to the jury depicted a lively scene with teens holding drinks poolside, while prosecutors highlighted what they called a revealing image of Roberts in a bikini interacting with the victim. The scandal forced Roberts to resign as mayor just days before her initial arrest in August 2024. Earlier charges led to a mistrial after appeals court interventions, but she was re-indicted and re-arraigned on the current felonies.
The defense maintained Roberts’ innocence, pointing to alleged inconsistencies in witness statements and arguing no crime occurred. Despite her not-guilty plea, the jury found the prosecution’s case—bolstered by victim accounts, family members’ testimonies, digital records, and delivery evidence—overwhelming.
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The quick deliberation underscored the compelling nature of the evidence in this small community of roughly 9,800 residents, where the case shattered public trust in local leadership. Roberts now faces up to 10 years in prison for carnal knowledge of a juvenile and up to seven years for indecent behavior with a juvenile. She must also register as a Tier 1 sex offender. Sentencing is set for April 17, 2026, before Judge Kent Savoie.
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This high-profile conviction has ignited conversations about adult responsibility around minors, alcohol provision at gatherings, and accountability for public officials. Community members expressed hope that the outcome provides closure amid the lingering shock of the betrayal.