DeRidder mayor arrested on rape charge

DERIDDER, La. (KPLC) - Misty Roberts Clanton, who resigned as DeRidder mayor last week, is accused of having sex with a juvenile.

Roberts was arrested by Louisiana State Police Thursday morning on counts of third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office jail roster shows Roberts, 42, was arrested at 10:13 a.m. and released at 11:30 a.m. on $75,000 bond.

Sgt. Ross Brennan, a state police spokesman, said the alleged juvenile victim and another juvenile confirmed to state police’s Special Victims Unit that Roberts had sex with the juvenile.

Adam Johnson, Roberts’ attorney, released the following statement:

“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. My client maintains her innocence and, as it stands, she is in fact innocent. She has not been charged with a crime and/or convicted of any crime. And we trust the public will respect her constitutional presumption of innocence which is fundamental to our system of justice. 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.”

The arrest follows a tumultuous week in DeRidder. After saying she would be away from the office for two weeks and appointing a mayor pro tem on Friday, July 26, she resigned on Saturday, July 27.

Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit says it conducted interviews with two juveniles, one of which was the victim, both of whom told detectives that Roberts had sexual intercourse with the victim while Roberts was mayor.