UPDATE: Delays continue in former mayor’s trial

Published 5:23 pm Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Delays continue to plague proceedings in the trial of former DeRidder mayor Misty Roberts, as jury selection was delayed on Tuesday.

Jury selection began after a short delay on Monday while motions were made by Roberts’ defense team, Adam Johnson and Todd Clemons, but those motions were denied by Ad Hoc Judge D. Kent Savoie.

Monday evening, Johnson filed a writ with the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, and proceedings were paused on Tuesday while the 36th Judicial District Court awaited the appellate court’s ruling. A full jury has yet to be selected.

This is the second time the state has attempted to get the trial underway. Last month, a mistrial was declared before jury selection had been completed after the Louisiana Supreme Court upheld a ruling by the Third Circuit that quashed a felony indictment against Roberts. The courts found that because the indictment had been returned by a grand jury hearing that had been presided over by a Beauregard Parish judge, one month after the state’s high court recused both judges, the indictment was quashed.

That decision ultimately vacated the indictments filed against Roberts, leading Savoie to declare a mistrial. On Feb. 4, Roberts was arraigned again on a felony charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile and a felony charge of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

Court is expected to resume Wednesday at 9 a.m.