The former mayor of a small town has been convicted of engaging in a sexual relationship with her son’s 16-year-old friend during a late-night gathering where alcohol was present for the teens.
Misty Roberts, aged 43, who once led the community of DeRidder, Louisiana, was found guilty of having sexual interactions with a minor at a 2024 house party held at her residence.
On Tuesday, the jury delivered a guilty verdict for Roberts on charges of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile, both of which are felonies.
Roberts is set for sentencing in April. The conviction for carnal knowledge could lead to a prison term of up to 10 years, while the indecent behavior charge may result in a maximum of seven years behind bars.
Additionally, she will be mandated to register as a Tier 1 sex offender.
This verdict follows a previous trial that ended in a mistrial caused by judicial complications in Beauregard Parish.
Last week, jurors got to hear from Roberts’ own children, her ex-husband, a longtime friend, a DoorDash driver and several teenagers who were present on the night of the pool party.
The victim took to the stand to tell the jury that he had been drunk when he and Roberts had sex.
Roberts’ own two children and her nephew also testified how they saw her and the teen together – although they were unable to say whether the pair had sex.
Misty Roberts, 43, the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was found guilty of third-degree rape at trial on Tuesday
On the stand, her son later testified he was not certain that was what he saw. Roberts’ daughter said in a recorded interview she saw her mother and the teen ‘on top of each other.’
One of the most emotional moments in the trial came as jurors watched an interview of Roberts’ son, recorded last year.
In the courtroom, prosecutors played the full 2025 forensic interview for the jury, during which Roberts’ son said he saw his mother having sex with his friend through a crack in a window.
But when he took to the stand in person, he told jurors he was uncertain about what he saw.
Text messages between mother and son were displayed in court. In one, he warned her, ‘He is seventeen.’ Authorities have said the victim was 16 at the time.
Other texts shown to jurors included exchanges about what alcohol the teens wanted for the party.
Messages from that night also showed the son telling his mother that what was happening was ‘crazy’ and that his younger sister was crying.
Roberts’ daughter also testified, as prosecutors played her interview with investigators. In it, she said she saw her mother and the teenage boy ‘on top of each other’ that night.
None of the young witnesses testified to seeing ‘private parts,’ according to testimony. One said the boy was shirtless.
Jurors were also shown photographs from the party, including images of minors holding drinks near the pool.
Prosecutors described one image of Roberts in a bikini standing near the teen – who appeared to be smiling and looking up at her – as ‘lewd.’
Most of their bodies were not visible in the photograph.
The court also heard that after the alleged encounter, the teen’s mother texted Roberts to ensure she was not pregnant.
Prosecutors said Roberts replied that she was on birth control and later shared a screenshot of that exchange in a group chat, suggesting she would also take Plan B.
Jurors were shown a recorded 2025 interview in which her own son said he saw her having sex with his friend through a crack in a window
Clanton was in the middle of her second term as the municipality’s mayor, winning reelection with sixty percent of the vote in 2022
A DoorDash driver also testified that he accepted a request from ‘Misty C’ to purchase emergency contraception and leave it at Roberts’ front door.
He told jurors he recognized the house because he had taken his children trick-or-treating there in the past.
In the days that followed, he said he heard rumors about the allegations and believed the delivery he has made was connected to that night.
Roberts’ nephew testified that he tried to see what was happening in the room by using his phone’s camera.
He said he was unsure whether he pressed ‘record,’ but if he did, he never sent any video to anyone.
He acknowledged clearing his Snapchat memories before turning over his phone to investigators, explaining that he had photos of himself and friends drinking and was worried about getting in trouble. He testified that he did not intend to delete evidence.
Defense attorneys suggested that part of Roberts’ son’s recorded interview was not properly transcribed.
A teenage member of the alleged victim’s friend group also testified that the boy appeared drunk and vomited that night. He said Roberts was ‘talkative and dancing’ and that he saw her flirting with the teen.
He told jurors he later saw Roberts and the boy having sex through a crack in a window. After they came downstairs, he described yelling and a major argument.
He also testified that he was told he could not leave by two adults, Jill Weaver and Roberts.
On Saturday, Roberts’ ex-husband, Duncan Clanton, told jurors she confessed to him directly.
Roberts resigned as mayor days before her 2024 arrest. Bond conditions initially limited her contact with her children without her ex-husband Duncan Clanton’s permission and revoked child support
Clanton testified that Roberts admitted she had sex with the teenage boy and that their children had caught them in the act.
After speaking with her privately, he said he spoke with their son, who confirmed what Roberts had told him.
Jurors saw text messages between the former couple. On the day of a city council meeting, Clanton wrote to Roberts, ‘I would deny what happened if you’re approached by anyone at the meeting.’
He also testified that Roberts texted him, ‘I need you to deny it, please.’
In another message shown to the jury, Roberts wrote, ‘I can’t keep hurting others, friends and family. Lord knows I’ve done enough.’
Clanton said he would not lie about the incident, though he had avoided discussing it.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Todd Clemmons asked whether he agreed Roberts was a great mom. Clanton responded, ‘No.’
He later testified he had previously told her she was a great mom because she was in a bad mental place and he was worried about her.
Roberts resigned as mayor days before her 2024 arrest. Bond conditions initially limited her contact with her children without Clanton’s permission and revoked child support.
The current trial follows a mistrial after two Beauregard Parish judges involved in earlier grand jury proceedings were removed, leading to the original indictments being dismissed. Roberts was later re-indicted and arraigned on the current charges.
