Misty Roberts, a former Louisiana mayor, was sentenced to 90 days in prison Tuesday after being convicted of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy at her home last summer.
The 44-year-old Roberts faced up to 17 years behind bars following her conviction on two felony counts: carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile. The assault occurred in July 2024 during a pool party at her residence where alcohol was being consumed. Roberts was serving as mayor of DeRidder at the time, a position she had held since 2018.
Beyond the prison term, Roberts must register as a sex offender, pay $5,000 in fines, and submit to regular drug screenings. She also faces mandatory psychotropic and psychological counseling following her release. The court imposed two concurrent five-year suspended sentences that will activate if she violates parole.
During sentencing, Roberts acknowledged her culpability. "I blame myself then, I blame myself today, and I will blame myself for the rest of my life," she told the court, adding that she had disappointed many people and bore sole responsibility for her actions.
She directed a separate apology to the victim's family, saying she could not restore the high school experiences the boy lost or undo the public humiliation he endured online.
The victim's mother delivered a statement describing the lasting trauma inflicted on her son. She painted a stark picture of the predator who violated her child: not a stranger lurking with false enticements, but someone who used conventional trappings of respectability as cover. "This predator was not hiding in a van carrying candy or a puppy," she said. "This danger came from a predator with hair extensions, high heels, Botox, and other modifications."
The mother recounted finding her son isolated in his bedroom at night, hearing him cry. She described how ordinary teenage social events became sources of anxiety for him, forcing conversations about trauma no adolescent should face. "Half of his high school experience was taken from him," she said, closing with a direct warning to Roberts: "Stay the hell away from my family."
Author James Rodriguez: "A 90-day sentence for statutory rape of a minor while holding elected office sends the message that power and respectability offer effective cover for serious crimes."
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