Former Louisiana Mayor Faces Third-Degree Rape Charges in Controversial Trial
The ongoing trial of Misty Roberts, the 43-year-old former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, has entered its second phase after a previous case ended in a mistrial due to judicial complications in Beauregard Parish. Roberts faces serious charges of third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles stemming from a 2024 late-night pool party at her residence where teenagers were reportedly drinking alcohol.
Emotional Testimony from Family Members
Last week, jurors heard compelling testimony from multiple witnesses including Roberts' own children, her ex-husband Duncan Clanton, a longtime friend, a DoorDash delivery driver, and several teenagers who attended the controversial gathering. One of the most dramatic moments occurred when prosecutors played a 2025 forensic interview with Roberts' son, who initially stated he observed his mother engaging in sexual activity with his 16-year-old friend through a window crack.
However, when taking the stand directly, the son expressed uncertainty about what he actually witnessed that night. This contradiction became a focal point as defense attorneys suggested portions of the recorded interview might not have been accurately transcribed.
Revealing Text Messages and Photographic Evidence
The court examined numerous text exchanges between mother and son, including one where the son warned Roberts, "He is seventeen," despite authorities confirming the alleged victim was actually 16 at the time. Additional messages discussed what types of alcohol teenagers wanted for the party, with the son later texting his mother that the situation was "crazy" and that his younger sister was crying.
Jurors viewed photographs from the event showing minors holding drinks near the pool. Prosecutors described one particular image of Roberts wearing a bikini while standing near the smiling teenage boy as "lewd," though most of their bodies remained obscured in the photograph.
Additional Witness Accounts and Evidence
Roberts' daughter testified through a recorded interview that she saw her mother and the teenager "on top of each other" during the party. Notably, none of the young witnesses claimed to have seen explicit private parts, with one mentioning only that the boy was shirtless.
A DoorDash driver testified about delivering emergency contraception to Roberts' home after receiving a request from "Misty C." The driver recognized the residence from previous Halloween trick-or-treating with his children and later connected the delivery to rumors about the allegations.
Ex-Husband's Damaging Testimony
Duncan Clanton, Roberts' ex-husband, provided particularly damaging testimony, stating that Roberts confessed directly to him about having sex with the teenage boy and that their children had discovered them together. Text messages between the former couple revealed Clanton advising Roberts to "deny what happened" if approached at a city council meeting, with Roberts pleading, "I need you to deny it, please."
In another message shown to jurors, Roberts wrote, "I can't keep hurting others, friends and family. Lord knows I've done enough." When defense attorney Todd Clemmons asked if Roberts was a great mother, Clanton responded simply, "No," though he later explained he had previously told her otherwise because she was in a poor mental state.
Legal Proceedings and Background
Roberts resigned as mayor just days before her 2024 arrest, having won reelection with sixty percent of the vote in 2022 during her second term. Initial bond conditions restricted her contact with her children without Clanton's permission and revoked child support payments.
The current trial follows a mistrial declared after two Beauregard Parish judges involved in earlier grand jury proceedings were removed, resulting in the original indictments being dismissed. Roberts was subsequently re-indicted and arraigned on the current charges.
Additional testimony came from Roberts' nephew, who admitted attempting to record what was happening using his phone's camera but clearing his Snapchat memories before surrendering his device to investigators, explaining he feared getting in trouble for photos showing underage drinking. A teenage friend of the alleged victim testified that the boy appeared intoxicated and vomited during the party, describing Roberts as "talkative and dancing" while flirting with the teenager.
The court also heard that after the alleged encounter, the teenage boy's mother texted Roberts to ensure she wasn't pregnant, with Roberts responding that she was on birth control and later sharing a screenshot of that exchange in a group chat while suggesting she would take Plan B as well.
The trial resumes on Monday morning as proceedings continue in this high-profile case that has captured significant public attention in Louisiana.
