Former DeRidder mayor’s legal team asks for ‘grace’ from community

Published 6:53 pm Thursday, March 5, 2026

The legal defense team for former DeRidder mayor — and now convicted sex offender — Misty Roberts said they have now shifted their focus to helping their client remain free after sentencing.

In a joint statement from attorneys Adam Johnson and Todd S. Clemons, the pair said they are looking forward to finding the best possible outcome for Roberts post-sentencing.

“We are disappointed by the verdict, but of course, respect the jury’s decision,” the statement provided to the American Press reads. “Our focus now is on doing everything we can to keep Misty free after sentencing so she can continue raising her son and daughter, as she has for the last two years while awaiting trial.”

The statement went on to ask the public to grant Roberts “grace” in the aftermath of her conviction.

“As attention around this case continues, we ask the public to remember that, behind every headline, there is a real person and family living through it. Regardless of how anyone views the outcome, grace and humanity are always appropriate.”

On Thursday, Roberts fulfilled her obligation to register as a Tier 1 sex offender with the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Roberts was convicted Tuesday of felony charges of indecent behavior with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. The six-day trial enthralled the local community and despite the two guilty verdicts from a six-person jury, community members expressed even more frustration when Roberts was allowed to walk out of the courtroom and remain free on bond while she awaits her sentencing on April 17.

“It’s outrageous,” said Hunter Robin, who has processed bail bonds in the Beauregard Parish area for more than nine years. “Anyone else convicted of those charges would have been remanded to custody immediately. Being allowed to remain released after conviction is shocking to me, and I can’t help but feel like it would not have even been considered if the gender roles were reversed.”

Robin referred to other cases in Beauregard Parish similar to Roberts’ — including one involving a 20-year-old man arrested on charges similar to Roberts at nearly the same time.

“In that case, he was arrested the same week as (Roberts) and charged with carnal knowledge,” Robin told the American Press. “He was not allowed to bond out for two or three weeks. When his bond was finally set, it was in the amount of $200,000.”

Roberts was initially arrested on the charge of third-degree rape, with a bond set at $75,000. According to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office jail rosters, Roberts was arrested just after 10 a.m. and released at 11:30 a.m. the same day.

State prosecutor Charles Robinson declined to comment on Roberts’ release, but said he felt confident Savoie would be fair and just at Roberts’ upcoming sentencing hearing.

“At the sentencing hearing, the judge will consider the sentencing factors, which include her supervisory position over the children, and other aggravating circumstances, such as her lack of remorse and accountability,” Robinson said.

Throughout the trial, screenshots of text messages sent by Roberts to the juveniles present during the incident, and friends and family in the days afterward, showed Roberts asking and even pressuring others to deny or outright lie about the events that occurred.

Roberts has continued to maintain her innocence, despite the lack of evidence, which Robinson said was “not surprising.”

“We appreciate the jury’s time and attention, as they followed the evidence and quickly found the defendant guilty of both charges,” Robinson said. “It is unfortunate and disappointing that she still claims her innocence despite the testimony and cross-examination of many sensitive juvenile eyewitnesses and other undeniable evidence, which established proof beyond any reasonable doubt of the defendant’s deplorable, lewd, and corrupt acts. Her claims of innocence are not surprising given the evidence, ‘we lie ‘til we die’ (texts), and her plan to claim accusers were ‘playing politics’ despite the truth.”

Sentencing will be held in the 36th Judicial District Court of Beauregard Parish.