Misty Roberts
Misty Roberts YouTube: KPLC 7 News

A small Louisiana city has been thrust into national scrutiny after a former mayor stood trial over allegations she sexually assaulted a 16-year-old boy during a pool party attended by her own children.

The case centres on Misty Roberts, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, who is charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles following an alleged incident in 2024. Prosecutors say the encounter occurred at a party Roberts hosted for teenagers at her home, where alcohol was allegedly provided. Court testimony and investigative interviews presented to jurors indicate that Roberts' own children became key witnesses in the criminal proceedings.

The allegations remain contested, and Roberts has pleaded not guilty. Her defence maintains that the evidence is unreliable and that she is entitled to the presumption of innocence as the trial continues.

Criminal Charges Stem From 2024 Pool Party Investigation

According to testimony presented in court and reporting based on trial proceedings by local broadcaster KPLC, investigators began examining the case after authorities received a complaint in late August 2024. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit, which interviewed multiple minors connected to the gathering.

Prosecutors allege that Roberts, then serving as mayor, engaged in sexual intercourse with a teenage boy during the party. Under Louisiana law, third-degree rape applies when an adult has sexual relations with a minor below the age of legal consent, even absent physical force. Conviction can carry a substantial prison sentence.

Trial testimony described a gathering where teenagers were photographed holding alcoholic drinks near a swimming pool. Jurors were shown images recovered during the investigation, including one prosecutors characterised as 'lewd,' depicting Roberts in a bikini alongside the alleged victim.

Evidence presented in court also included text messages prosecutors said were exchanged before and after the party. In one exchange, Roberts allegedly asked her son what alcohol the teenagers wanted available at the event.

Roberts resigned as mayor shortly after the investigation became public, stepping down days before her arrest and release on a £59,000 ($75,000) bond.

Children's Testimony Becomes Central To Prosecution Case

The most striking evidence presented at trial has come from interviews and testimony involving Roberts' own children. Jurors viewed recorded forensic interviews conducted at a child advocacy centre as part of the investigation.

In one interview played in court, Roberts' son told investigators he believed he saw his mother having sex with his friend through a gap in a window. During live testimony, however, he expressed uncertainty about precisely what he witnessed, a point emphasised by defence lawyers.

Roberts' daughter also gave evidence through a recorded interview shown to jurors. She told investigators she saw the pair 'on top of each other' during the night of the party. None of the witnesses testified that they observed nudity or explicit body parts, an issue the defence has highlighted in challenging the prosecution's narrative.

A nephew of the former mayor testified that he attempted to use his phone camera to see inside the room where the alleged encounter occurred. He said he could not confirm whether any recording was made and told the court he later cleared his Snapchat memories because they contained images of teenagers drinking alcohol.

The prosecution has argued that the children's accounts demonstrate both opportunity and awareness, while defence counsel has questioned interview techniques and gaps in transcripts presented to the jury.

Digital Messages And Post-Incident Actions Examined In Court

Investigators have also relied heavily on digital communications introduced as evidence. Prosecutors told jurors that the alleged victim's mother contacted Roberts by text message following the party to ask whether she might be pregnant. Roberts allegedly responded that she was using birth control.

The jury further heard testimony from a DoorDash delivery driver who said he delivered emergency contraception to Roberts' home shortly after the alleged incident. The driver testified he recognised the residence because his children had previously visited the property while trick-or-treating.

Prosecutors argue that these communications support their claim that sexual contact occurred. The defence has countered that such interpretations rely on assumption rather than direct proof.

The trial has also included testimony from Roberts' former husband, who reportedly told jurors she admitted to having sex with the teenager, an allegation her legal team disputes.

The allegations have shaken DeRidder, a city of fewer than 10,000 residents near the Texas border, where Roberts had built a political career spanning years in municipal service before becoming the city's first female mayor in 2018.

Her resignation triggered an abrupt leadership transition and drew renewed scrutiny toward misconduct allegations involving elected officials and minors in the United States. Legal analysts note that cases involving public officials often hinge on witness credibility rather than forensic evidence, particularly when incidents occur in private settings.

The proceedings continue, with prosecutors seeking to establish that the alleged victim's age and the circumstances surrounding the party meet the statutory threshold for criminal liability. Defence attorneys maintain that inconsistencies in witness recollections and the absence of explicit physical evidence raise reasonable doubt.