Former DeRidder Mayor's Rape Trial Sparks Family Scandal and Legal Battles

The courtroom in Beauregard Parish was silent as the screen flickered with grainy footage of a cracked window. A 19-year-old boy sat on the witness stand, his voice shaking as he described watching his mother, Misty Roberts, through the gap. 'I saw them... I saw them,' he said, his words trailing off. The tape, recorded last year, had become central to the trial of the former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, who now faces third-degree rape charges and accusations of contributing to juvenile delinquency. The case, which has splintered a small town, has drawn national attention for its tangled web of family, power, and legal battles.

Roberts, 43, is accused of a 2024 pool party where, prosecutors claim, she engaged in a sexual act with a 16-year-old boy. The allegations surfaced during a late-night gathering at her home, where teenagers were drinking and partying. The trial is the second round for Roberts, who previously faced a mistrial after two judges overseeing the initial grand jury were removed for judicial misconduct. The case has since been re-indicted, with Roberts now pleading not guilty. 'This is not about me,' she told reporters earlier this month. 'It's about the truth.'

Jurors heard from Roberts' children, her ex-husband, a DoorDash driver, and multiple teenagers who attended the party. The most emotional testimony came from Roberts' son, who recounted the night of the alleged incident in a recorded forensic interview. In the video, he said he saw his mother and his friend through a crack in the window. 'I saw them... on the floor,' he said, his voice trembling. But when he took the stand in person, he hesitated. 'I don't remember for sure what I saw,' he admitted, prompting murmurs from the gallery. His testimony contradicted the video, raising questions about its reliability.

Text messages between Roberts and her son were displayed in court. One showed him warning his mother: 'He is seventeen.' Authorities confirmed the alleged victim was 16 at the time. Roberts' daughter also testified, recounting in a recorded interview that she saw her mother and the teen 'on top of each other.' Her testimony was corroborated by other witnesses, though none described seeing 'private parts.' One teenager said the boy was shirtless, while a photo from the party showed Roberts in a bikini standing near him as he smiled up at her. Prosecutors labeled the image 'lewd,' though most of the bodies were not fully visible.

The trial has also delved into Roberts' relationship with her ex-husband, Duncan Clanton, who testified that Roberts confessed to him directly. Clanton, who served as mayor of DeRidder for over a decade, said Roberts admitted to having sex with the teenager and that their children had caught them in the act. 'I didn't want to believe it at first,' he told jurors. 'But when my son confirmed it, I knew.' He added that Roberts had texted him, begging him to 'deny it' if approached by anyone during a city council meeting. 'She was scared,' he said. 'She didn't want to hurt anyone else.'

A DoorDash driver also testified, revealing he delivered emergency contraception to Roberts' home in the days after the alleged incident. He recognized the house from trick-or-treating with his children years earlier. 'I heard rumors after that night,' he said. 'I thought the delivery was connected.' Roberts' nephew, who tried to record the incident using his phone's camera, testified that he deleted Snapchat memories before turning over his phone to investigators. He claimed he didn't intend to destroy evidence but was worried about photos of himself and friends drinking. 'I just wanted to protect my family,' he said.

Defense attorneys have challenged the credibility of Roberts' son's testimony, suggesting parts of the recorded interview were not properly transcribed. They also argued that the alleged victim's age—16—was key, as the law in Louisiana sets the age of consent at 17. 'This is a case about misunderstandings,' said defense attorney Todd Clemmons. 'We're not here to defend Misty Roberts—we're here to defend the truth.'

Roberts resigned as mayor just days before her 2024 arrest, with bond conditions restricting her contact with her children without her ex-husband's approval. Child support was also revoked during her legal battle. The trial has exposed a fractured family and a community grappling with the legacy of a former leader. 'She's a mother, a mayor, a person who made mistakes,' said one local resident, who asked not to be named. 'But this isn't about punishment. It's about justice.'

As the trial resumes on Monday, the jury will weigh the conflicting testimonies and evidence. For Roberts, the stakes are immense: a conviction could mean years in prison and the end of any political career. For her children, it's a trial that has already shattered their lives. 'I just want the truth to come out,' said one of her daughters, who sat quietly in the courtroom. 'No matter what.'