Louisiana
Ex-Louisiana Mayor, Misty Roberts, accused of raping juvenile
This booking photo provided by Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office in DeRidder, La., shows Misty Clanton Roberts. (Credit: Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office via FOX News)
The former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, was arrested and charged with raping a juvenile on Thursday.
Misty Roberts, 42, was booked into the Beauregard Parish Detention Center after turning herself in, according to a Louisiana State Police news release.
Investigators conducted interviews with two juveniles, one of whom was a victim, police said. Both juveniles confirmed that Roberts had sexual intercourse with one juvenile while she was still employed as mayor.
Roberts has been charged with third-degree rape contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, police said.
She was released on a $75,000 bond, according to jail records.
News of her arrest comes after she abruptly announced she was resigning as mayor last month after previously saying that she was taking an unplanned two-week leave and had appointed Fire Chief Ken Harlow as acting mayor in her absence.
Roberts, an independent, became the first woman to hold the office of mayor of DeRidder in 2018. She was serving her second term after winning reelection in 2022.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This story was reported from Los Angeles.