By Blake Wolf, OAN Staff
Friday, August 2, 2024 9:50 AM
Misty Roberts, who served as mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, until resigning last week, has been arrested and charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
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Thursday’s arrest comes after Roberts resigned from his position just days before the news broke.
“On July 26, 2024, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office requested the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP SVU) to investigate allegations made against a former DeRidder Mayor for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with a minor. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Misty Roberts, 42,” Louisiana State Police said in a statement.
Los Santos Police investigated allegations of misconduct by Roberts, 42, which ultimately led to her arrest.
“As the investigation progressed, LSP SVU interviewed two juveniles, one of whom was the victim. Both juveniles admitted to Roberts having sexual intercourse with one of the juvenile victims while he was serving as mayor. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Roberts from the 36th Judicial District Court in Beauregard Parish.”
After Los Santos Police obtained a warrant for Roberts’ arrest, she quickly turned herself in.
The former mayor was held for just over an hour before being released on $75,000 bail.
Roberts’ lawyer, meanwhile, maintains that his client is innocent and has criticized local police for not speaking to him directly before his arrest.
“It is an honor to represent Misty Roberts. My client found out about the warrant late last night, even though she had not been contacted for an interview prior to investigators obtaining the warrant,” said Roberts’ attorney, Adam Johnson.
“We trust the public to respect the constitutional presumption of innocence, which is the foundation of our judicial system,” he continued.
Roberts ran as an independent and became DeRidder’s first female mayor in 2018. She was up for re-election in 2022 for a second term before stepping down.
The former mayor reportedly also planned to run for re-election in 2026, but behind-closed doors actions likely squandered that chance.
“For nearly 15 years, my love and passion for DeRidder has been my foundation as mayor,” Roberts wrote in his resignation statement. “This role has given me the opportunity to form many great relationships, and I have been honored to witness the community come together and work hard to navigate these unprecedented times. But we must adjust our focus and priorities.”
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