Former Louisiana Mayor Misty Roberts Stands Trial in Alleged Sexual Assault of Teen

Misty Roberts, a former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, is being tried for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy in July 2024.

Louisiana State Police arrested Roberts on charges of third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles in August 2024, one month after the alleged incident. She had already resigned as Deridder mayor a few days prior.

Roberts Faces Amended Sexual Assault Charges

Roberts, 43, is now re-arraigned on charges of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behaviour with a juvenile, according to a Beauregard News report. Roberts' friend and a DoorDash driver provided testimonies during the trial.

A DoorDash driver testified that he delivered Plan B emergency contraception to a customer named 'Misty C' shortly after the alleged incident, per The Acadiana Advocate. The driver recognised the house upon delivery because he had taken his children there for trick-or-treating.

Upon hearing the rumours about Roberts, the driver said he came to believe the contraceptive was ordered for the alleged incident.

Witness Provides Damning Testimony on Incident

Jill Weaver, who identified herself as Roberts' best friend, said that Roberts told her nephew, Weaver's son, to 'lie 'til you die' about the alleged incident. Weaver said Roberts instructed other juveniles to lie about allegedly seeing her having sex with a minor.

Weaver said things came to a head on the night of 20 July 2024, when her son told her to meet at Roberts' residence. She arrived to see Roberts and her son in a heated argument.

Prosecutor Charles Robinson asked Weaver why Roberts' son was upset. 'He was saying (Roberts) effed his best friend,' she responded. 'That whole night was a lot,' she added. 'It was chaos.'

Allegedly, Roberts also accused Weaver's son of having a video recording of the incident. Roberts also threatened self-harm, to the point that Weaver's son retrieved a gun from the residence and put it out of Roberts' reach.

Per Weaver's sworn statement, Roberts then told the juveniles who were present that night to 'not talk about' the argument. The day after, Roberts sent a text message to Weaver's son, telling him to lie if ever questioned about what transpired the preceding night.

Juveniles Offer Sworn Firsthand Accounts

Roberts' two children also took the witness stand. Both had previously claimed they saw their mother and a juvenile doing indecent acts on the night of the alleged incident.

Roberts' nephew, Weaver's son, said that he only used his phone's camera to see into the room that night. He maintained that he's unsure if he pressed the record button, and if he did, he did not send any footage to anyone.

When the defence asked him why he cleared his memories on Snapchat, Weaver's son said he did that to wipe photos of him and his friends drinking, and not to delete evidence.

The current trial resumes after months of delays. The court had declared a mistrial and quashed an earlier indictment. Roberts was re-indicted and re-arraigned with amended charges this Month.

The court resumes on 7 March at 9:00am.