Louisiana
Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts, 42, accused of raping a minor — one week after abrupt resignation
A Louisiana mayor, who abruptly took a leave of absence before resigning last week, is accused of raping a minor during her time in office.
Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts was charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, Louisiana State Police announced on Thursday.
An investigation into the 42-year-old mayor, who was in her second term, was opened on July 26, after the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office requested the state police look into a complaint against Roberts.
“As the investigation progressed, LSP SVU conducted interviews with two juveniles, one of which was the victim. Both juveniles confirmed Roberts had sexual intercourse with one juvenile victim while employed as Mayor,” a statement read.
A warrant for Roberts’ arrest was issued on Wednesday before she surrendered herself to the police.
Roberts was booked into Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail at 10:13 a.m. and released 77 minutes later on a $75,000 bond, jail records show.
Roberts’ attorney called his client innocent while calling out law enforcement for not talking with the former mayor before her arrest.
“It is my honor to represent Misty Roberts. My client learned late last night of a warrant, despite not being contacted to be interviewed prior to investigators obtaining the warrant,” Adam Johnson said, according to KPLC. “My client maintains her innocence and, as it stands, she is in fact innocent.”
“We trust the public will respect her constitutional presumption of innocence which is fundamental to our system of justice,” he added. “Misty and her family are very grateful for the support they have received from their friends and neighbors and we look forward to putting this unfortunate situation behind them.”
Her arrest comes after she announced that she would step away from her office for two weeks on July 26, the same day police launched their probe, the outlet reported.
DeRidder Fire Chief Ken Harlow was appointed as her mayor pro tem.
But a day later, the disgraced former mayor submitted a letter of resignation to the city council.
“For nearly 15 years, my love and passion for DeRidder has been my foundation while serving as Mayor,” Roberts wrote.
“This role has rewarded me with many great relationships. I am humbled to have witnessed the hard work that took a community to come together and overcome through unprecedented times. However, I must adjust my focus and priorities,” she added.
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s office must make the resignation official, before City Council President Randy Larken begins serving as the city’s mayor pro tem until a new mayor is elected on March 29, 2025.
DeRidder, a city of just under 10,000 people, is situated on the west side of the state approximately 20 miles from the Texas-Louisiana border.
The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 5, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 5 drawing
12-22-50-51-55, Mega Ball: 10
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 5 drawing
6-2-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 5 drawing
3-1-9-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from May 5 drawing
7-7-0-4-2
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.
By mail, follow these instructions:
- Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
- Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
- Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
- Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.
Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:
Louisiana Lottery Headquarters
555 Laurel Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:
555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.
When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
- Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Future Use of Energy in Louisiana is doubling down on early-stage energy innovation, awarding nearly $1.2 million to six startups in its second round of proof-of-concept funding.
The grants are designed to help companies bridge the gap between research and commercialization, often one of the toughest hurdles in scaling new technology. The awardees must complete their project within a year of receiving their award.
The latest recipients span a range of emerging sectors critical to Louisiana’s energy future, including carbon utilization, LNG infrastructure, carbon capture, waste-to-value systems and green hydrogen. Projects include a carbon dioxide-based chemical production process, a cryogenic valve for extreme conditions and a biomass gasification system aimed at hydrogen production.
“These startups aren’t just advancing energy innovation—they’re helping build a stronger Louisiana,” said Stephen Loys, director of technology commercialization for FUEL. “We’re excited to support them as they turn their ideas into market-ready solutions.”
Here’s a full list of startups and their projects:
- Renovigo Chemicals: Utilizing carbon dioxide in the production of propylene and acrylonitrile
- Westfield Fluid Controls, Inc.: The Cryogenic Cam Butterfly Valve: A specialized fluid control device
- Eray Geophysical: Diffraction seismic software for subsurface fracture detection in carbon capture and storage
- EcoGlobe: Turning waste into value
- NovaSpark Energy: Gridless on-demand power for reliable energy always
- Waste to Energy Systems LLC: Biomass gasification system for green hydrogen production
Backed by the National Science Foundation and Louisiana Economic Development, the program is part of a broader push to position the state as a hub for next-generation energy technologies while accelerating startup growth and private investment.
Read the full announcement.
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