Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts who recently resigned is arrested and accused of raping minor
A mugshot of Misty Clanton Roberts.
Misty Clanton Roberts, who abruptly resigned as the mayor of the US state ofLouisiana last week, is facing a rape charge involving a minor, American media reported early Saturday (Aug 3).
A report by the news agency Associated Press on Saturday said that Roberts, 42, was arrested on Thursday on the chargesof third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. She was reportedly released from the Beauregard Parish jail after posting a $75,000 bond.
It was not immediately known if an arraignment had been scheduled.
What did the victim tell the police?
Louisiana Police spokespersonRoss Brennan said that thejuvenile victim and another juveniletold the police's Special Victims Unit that Roberts allegedly had sex with the victim while she was serving as the mayor ofDeRidder, a city of about 10,000 people located 80.47 kilometres north of Lake Charles.
Brennan did not disclose details about the victim'sage, gender, or hometown.
On July 27,Roberts submitted aletter of resignation to the city council after previously telling Council Clerk Glenna Luther (also in the letter) that she wastaking an unplanned two-week leave and had appointed Fire Chief Ken Harlow as acting mayor in her absence, the report said.
Robertsbecame the first woman to hold the office of mayor of DeRidder in 2018, and she was serving her second term after winning re-election in 2022.
'Roberts is innocent'
Speaking to local media,Roberts’ lawyer Adam Johnson said that his client was 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," Johnson added.
"Misty and her family are very grateful for the support they have received from their friends and neighbours and we look forward to putting this unfortunate situation behind them,” Roberts' lawyer said.
(With inputs from agencies)