BREAKING: Prosecution files it own appeal with state Supreme Court

Published 4:48 pm Tuesday, February 3, 2026

In answer to the defense for former DeRidder mayor Misty Roberts’ appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court, the state has filed its own writ with the high court.

Both sides have requested the Supreme Court step in to review the case and prevent a mistrial from being declared. Roberts’ defense seeks to throw out a potential mistrial declaration and move forward with the trial with only one felony charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and one misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. The state, on the other hand, requests the high court allow the state to proceed with a new bill of information filed last week that would keep those charges and a felony charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

The indecent behavior charge has been a source of debate since jury selection got underway Jan. 27. Before a full jury had been selected, Roberts’ attorney, Adam Johnson, filed a writ, first with the Beauregard Parish court and then with the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, requesting the indecent behavior be excluded since it was introduced during an August 2025 indictment hearing that was held under a Beauregard Parish judge.  Johnson cited a July 2025 ruling from the Louisiana Supreme Court that recused both judges with the 36th Judicial District Court and argued that made the indictment and charge null.

On Thursday, the Third Circuit released its opinion nullifying the indictment. That same morning, the state filed a new bill of information that included the debated charge. Court proceedings remained paused as Hon. D. Kent Savoie, Ad Hoc, excused seated and potential jurors to hold discussions with both sides on how best to proceed. Savoie expressed his concern that he had no choice but to declare a mistrial, but came short of
making the declaration to allow the defense to file further motions with the appellate court.

On Monday, the Third Circuit upheld that the indictment, not the charge, was nullified, but did not discuss the legality or path forward with the state’s newly filed bill of information.