Former Louisiana Mayor Completes Jail Sentence for Child Sex Crimes

Misty Roberts, the ex-mayor of Louisiana, who has been convicted of child sex crimes, has finished her jail time—a sentence that many have criticized as being far too lenient. It turns out the judge acknowledged a mistake in his calculations during sentencing.

According to prosecutors, Roberts held a drunken pool party at her house in July 2024 while she was serving her second term as the mayor of DeRidder. It was during this party that she allegedly provided alcohol and sexually assaulted a 16-year-old friend of her teen son.

Roberts, who made history as the first female mayor of DeRidder, stepped down from her position on July 27, 2024. She was arrested shortly after, in August 2024, and faced charges for third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of minors.

By March 2026, Roberts was found guilty of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a minor—both felony offenses. She was facing a maximum sentence of 17 years. The mother of the victim described Roberts in a powerful statement prior to sentencing, characterizing her as “a predator with hair extensions, high heels, Botox, and other modifications.”

As reported earlier, Roberts received a 90-day jail sentence along with two concurrent five-year suspended sentences, which she can avoid serving if she abides by the terms of her probation. This probation includes regular drug testing and psychological counseling. Additionally, Judge Kent Savoie ordered her to register as a sex offender for the next 15 years and pay a $5,000 fine.

Local residents expressed their dissatisfaction with Roberts’ sentence. DeRidder resident Kari McGee shared her thoughts, saying, “It’s a slap on the wrist for a child predator, because at the end of the day, that is exactly what it is.” She further emphasized the importance of imposing strict penalties for crimes against children, arguing, “There are no excuses when it comes to our children.” Another neighbor, Ryan Clark, voiced that the sentence was offensive to the victim and their family.

Roberts was released from jail on September 7 after serving her sentence. The Beauregard Parish District Attorney’s Office had previously sought a harsher sentence, but the judge turned down their request.

When questioned about the basis for the 90-day sentence, Judge Savoie mentioned that he looked at 34 prior sex abuse cases in the area. However, he later recognized that these cases all ended in plea deals, unlike Roberts’ case, which had gone to trial. He admitted to making a miscalculation and acknowledged the disparity in how he compared her case to others.

Assistant District Attorney Charles Robinson criticized the comparison, pointing out that it was inappropriate to align Roberts’ circumstances with plea deals. He noted that they were indeed “two different scenarios.” He remarked on Roberts’ status as a first-time offender, saying the recommendation for a maximum sentence was overly harsh.

Though the judge expressed disappointment over the request for more severe punishment, he maintained that his aim was to ensure fairness based on the precedents in Beauregard Parish. District Attorney Jimmy Lestage also commented on Savoie’s realization about the flawed comparison, expressing his continued belief that the sentence did not reflect the values of their community.