Ex-Louisiana mayor is arrested and accused of raping minor following abrupt resignation

2024-12-25 10:27:56 source:lotradecoin regional trading regulations category:Invest

DERIDDER, La. (AP) — A woman who abruptly resigned her mayoral seat in a small southwest Louisiana city a week ago is now facing a rape charge involving a minor.

Louisiana State Police arrested Misty Clanton Roberts, 42, on Thursday on charges of third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. She was released from the Beauregard Parish jail after posting $75,000 bond, news outlets reported.

It was not immediately known if an arraignment had been scheduled.

Sgt. Ross Brennan, a state police spokesman, said the alleged juvenile victim and another juvenile told the state police’s Special Victims Unit that Roberts had sex with the juvenile while Roberts was mayor of DeRidder, a city of about 10,000 people located about 50 miles (80.47 kilometers) north of Lake Charles. Brennan did not provide details of the alleged victims’ age, gender or hometown.

Roberts’ arrest came less than a week after she abruptly resigned. She submitted a letter of resignation to the city council on July 27 after previously telling Council Clerk Glenna Luther, also in a letter, that she was taking an unplanned two-week leave and had appointed Fire Chief Ken Harlow as acting mayor in her absence.

RELATED COVERAGE Surgical castration, ‘Don’t Say Gay’ and absentee regulations. New laws go into effect in Louisiana Democrats look to longtime state Sen. Cleo Fields to flip Louisiana congressional seat blue Prisoners fight against working in heat on former slave plantation, raising hope for change in South

Adam Johnson, Roberts’ attorney, in a statement to KPLC-TV, said his client is innocent.

“She has not been charged with a crime and/or convicted of any crime,” Johnson said. “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.”

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.

More:Invest

Recommend

Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others

THOMASTON, Maine (AP) — Kaja Veilleux has been hunting New England attic treasures for more than 50

Kansas City mass shooting is the 50th so far this year, gun violence awareness group says

The Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl Victory Wednesday with a parade joined by their f

Special counsel urges Supreme Court to deny Trump's bid to halt decision rejecting immunity claim in 2020 election case

Washington — Special counsel Jack Smith urged the Supreme Court on Wednesday to allow a lower court