Shock Leniency: Mayor’s Crimes, Slap-On-Wrist Sentence

A Louisiana judge let a twice-convicted child sex offender who was a sitting mayor walk free after just 90 days.

Story Snapshot

A jury convicted former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts of two felony sex crimes against a 16-year-old.
The judge gave 90 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, and suspended five-year prison terms.
Prosecutors asked for more time and said the judge relied on plea deals, not trial sentences.
The judge kept the 90-day sentence and admitted his case list mistake did not change the outcome.

What The Jury Decided And How The Sentence Landed At 90 Days

A Beauregard Parish jury found Misty Roberts guilty of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile for sex with a 16-year-old boy while she was in office. Reports said she faced up to 17 years based on the statutes, but Judge Kent Savoie imposed 90 days in jail, a $5,000 fine, and two five-year suspended terms to run concurrently. The defense had pushed for only a suspended sentence without jail time, which the court rejected in part.

State media and national outlets documented the sentencing details and the short term served. Coverage stated that Roberts completed the 90-day parish sentence and was released from custody, confirming the term’s brevity. That timeline sparked immediate public anger because the case involved a minor and an elected official. The sentence was legal under Louisiana law for the specific counts, but it still sat far below the maximum exposure reported during trial and sentencing coverage.

Prosecutors Challenged The Leniency And Flagged A Sentencing Error

The Beauregard Parish District Attorney sought a tougher punishment and filed a motion to reconsider. At the hearing, the state argued the judge relied on a list of local “similar” cases that were actually plea deals, not trial convictions. Judge Savoie acknowledged he was wrong about that mix but declined to change the sentence. He said prior parish outcomes over 15 years, victim-impact testimony, and Roberts’ lack of record guided his call, and he kept the 90 days in place.

Local reporting added that the judge viewed the state’s push for a maximum as “overboard” for a first-time offender. The defense framed the dispute as the state trying to punish Roberts for choosing a trial instead of a plea deal, calling it a “trial tax.” The judge also indicated he did not see Roberts as using mayoral power during the crime. Those views left the original sentence intact, despite the acknowledged mistake about case comparisons and the state’s call for more custody time.

Why This Outcome Alarms Parents, Voters, And Rule-Of-Law Conservatives

Parents see a clear breach of trust when an elected leader preys on a teen. Voters expect real consequences to protect kids and deter abuse. Prosecutors said Roberts could have faced many years, yet she served three months. The judge’s admission about relying on plea-deal cases raised confidence concerns. Even if lawful, the sentence looks out of step with the gravity of exploiting a minor, which is why the release after 90 days fueled outrage across the political spectrum.

Conservatives want equal justice, not special breaks for insiders. This case highlights a wider gap between what the law allows and what some courts choose. Sentences for sexual crimes against minors vary a lot based on the exact charges and whether there is a plea or a trial. That structure gives judges wide leeway. Critics argue that leeway should never shrink consequences for adults who target children, especially public officials who should be held to a higher standard of conduct and accountability.

What Comes Next And What Accountability Can Still Look Like

Officials can still push for clarity and reform. Lawmakers can review sentencing ranges and consider minimums that fit cases with teen victims, while guarding due process. Parish and state leaders can publish transparent data on sentences for these crimes, split by plea and trial, so the public sees patterns, not one-off headlines. Prosecutors can keep pressing for strong terms in similar cases and release full filings when possible, so families understand how courts weighed each factor.