Former DeRidder mayor Misty Roberts sent a series of panicked text messages to the mother of a 16-year-old boy after allegedly being caught engaging in sexual activity with him at a 2024 pool party at her home, according to evidence presented in her ongoing sex crimes trial.
Roberts, 43, who resigned as mayor of the Louisiana city shortly before her arrest in 2024, faces charges including third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. She has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors have introduced text exchanges during the trial, which began in late February 2026 after multiple delays and a prior mistrial. In one key message chain, the boy’s mother texted Roberts seeking reassurance amid concerns over the alleged encounter.
“Out of respect for both our families, can you assure me that you can’t be pregnant?” the mother asked, according to accounts from court proceedings and a criminal complaint reviewed by media outlets.
Roberts replied affirmatively: “Yes.”
When the mother pressed further—“So no protection? Are you on birth control, have you had tubal, hysterectomy??”—Roberts responded that she was on birth control and added that “it also didn’t reach that point in those few minutes to have that concern.” She emphasized understanding the mother’s worry but assured no pregnancy risk.
Roberts reportedly shared a screenshot of this exchange in a group chat with friends, where some suggested she take Plan B emergency contraception as a precaution. A DoorDash driver testified to delivering the medication to her home following the incident.
The texts surfaced as part of broader evidence in the case, which centers on allegations that Roberts had sexual contact with the teenage boy— a friend of her own son—during the party. Witnesses, including Roberts’ son and daughter, provided statements to investigators describing seeing the pair in compromising positions, with her son reportedly photographing the scene and later expressing distress in messages to his mother.
Additional panicked texts from Roberts included apologies to a juvenile witness and expressions of fear about the situation escalating, as detailed in the complaint.
The trial has featured testimony from family members, friends and others, including Roberts’ ex-husband, who reportedly said she confessed to the act. Prosecutors have described a photograph from the night as “lewd” and presented evidence of alcohol provided to minors at the event.
The case has drawn significant attention in the small community of DeRidder, population around 9,800. Roberts’ brother has faced separate child sex charges unrelated to this matter.
As of early March 2026, the trial continues with no verdict reported. Roberts maintains her innocence through her defense, which has characterized aspects of the prosecution’s case as based on rumors and inconsistencies in witness accounts.
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