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Published 13:21 10 Jun 2026 GMT
The mother of a teenage boy who was raped by ex-Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts has delivered a powerful statement after she avoided a harsh sentence.
Roberts, 43, was described as a "predator" by the mom, before the judge handed Roberts a slap on the wrist with a 90-day prison sentence.
The incident took place at a boozy pool party, with events leading to the mayor abruptly resigning from her mayoral position in late July 2024, before being arrested on August 1 that year.
She was charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, as Roberts was found guilty of statutory rape and indecent behaviour with a minor in March this year.
It was revealed that Roberts had sex with her son's 16-year-old friend at her home in 2024, despite the state's age of consent standing at 17.
But the victim's mother had some choice words for the former mayor at the sentencing hearing.
The victim's mom didn't hold back at the hearing, stating: “Danger doesn’t always look like a man with candy or a puppy in a van or strangers we tell our kids to beware of.”
“This predator has hair extensions, high heels, Botox and other augmentations,” she said, fighting back tears.
Prosecutors had fought for the former municipal government leader to be put behind bars for 17 years, but Roberts was given a 90-day prison sentence and two five-year suspended sentences.
She was also ordered to undergo therapy and pass regular drug and alcohol tests.
The former mayor of DeRidder told the court that she would rather serve time instead of posting a $150,000 bond.
The victim's mom also said in court: “You thought so much of yourself in that bikini that night, you knew exactly what you were doing with his mind. He was 16,
“What hurt almost as much as the initial betrayal was the attempt to shift the blame onto a 16-year-old boy from a 42-year-old woman.”
“I don’t know what category of innocence you thought you were in,” she stated.
She also said that Roberts was trying to avoid responsibility by telling her family to “lie till you die.”
A jury heard that the mom was heavily intoxicated, and had a photo taken with the teen, while also being seen flirting with him at the party on July 20, 2024.
After this, she disappeared upstairs with him, where her son and nephew caught them having sex.
Roberts realised the “weight of the situation”, and worked with those involved to form a scheme to stop it from spiralling.
But her own son took a photo of his friend on top og his mother, and admitted to investigators that he witnessed them engaging in intercourse.
A text in court revealed that Roberts' son messaged his mom, scared about what was unfolding.
He wrote: “He is 17” and also said his sister was crying.
Roberts' daughter said in court that she also saw the pair “on top of each other” that night, while her nephew admitted to trying to get a sneak peek into what was going on in the room.
“I was substantially touched by what I heard about how this affected the victim's family,” Judge D. Kent Savoie said.
Roberts was in the midst of her second term as mayor, after winning a re-election with 60 percent of the vote in 2022 - but now she is a registered sex offender and must pay a $5,000 fine.
Published 11:43 04 Mar 2026 GMT
A former small-town mayor is facing disturbing allegations after prosecutors say she had a sexual encounter with a 16-year-old boy during a party where alcohol was freely available.
Misty Roberts, the 43-year-old former mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, is at the center of the case that has shocked the tight-knit town of roughly 9,800 residents.
According to court documents and testimony presented at trial, Roberts was allegedly caught by her own children having sex with the teenager during a pool party in 2024, per The Sun.
In the aftermath, Roberts allegedly sent a series of frantic messages to family members and the teen’s mother as the situation began to unravel.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Daily Mail, Roberts reached out to her ex-husband, Duncan Clanton, after the alleged incident.
“I need to talk to you,” Roberts texted Clanton, according to the court papers. “I just need to tell you in person.”
“I f***ed up. And I respect you enough to tell you. And I need to,” Roberts said.
Clanton’s responses were not included in the court papers.
During the trial, Clanton testified that Roberts later admitted to him that she had engaged in a sexual encounter with the minor and that their children had caught them in the act. He told jurors that their son later confirmed what Roberts had told him.
The court also reviewed other messages between the pair. In one exchange, Clanton described Roberts as a "great mom," but later allegedly encouraged her to "deny what happened" if the topic came up during a town council meeting.
Roberts also sent another message reflecting on the damage caused by the situation.
“I can’t keep hurting others, friends, and family. Lord knows I’ve done enough,” she said.
Following the alleged encounter, the victim’s mother contacted Roberts directly to ask whether there was any chance she could be pregnant.
“Out of respect for both our families, can you assure me that you can’t be pregnant?” the 16-year-old boy’s mother asked Roberts.
“Yes,” Roberts replied.
The mother then pressed further.
“So no protection? Are you on birth control, have you had tubal, hysterectomy??” she asked.
Roberts responded that she was on “birth control,” while insisting the situation had not progressed far enough to create that concern.
“I understand the concern. But, I can assure you of that,” she continued.
Prosecutors said Roberts later shared a screenshot of the conversation with friends in a group chat, where some reportedly encouraged her to take Plan B, the emergency contraceptive pill.
The case took another turn when jurors heard testimony from a DoorDash driver who said he delivered emergency contraception to Roberts’ home in 2024, per the New York Post.
The driver testified that someone named "Misty C" had placed an order for the morning-after pill.
He told the court he recognized Roberts from a previous Halloween event where their children had interacted, and later connected the delivery to the allegations surrounding the former mayor after the case became public.
According to the criminal complaint, Roberts allegedly behaved flirtatiously with the teenager earlier in the evening.
Investigators said she had “pressed her butt up against” the alleged victim while taking a photograph of him.
“She made statements about being attracted to the [victim], she put her hand on the bare torso area of the [victim] while making said comments to him,” the complaint alleged.
Authorities claim Roberts then told the boy, “We can’t do this here,” before leading him to the “bonus room” of her home.
Once inside, the documents state she locked the doors, lay down on the couch with the boy, and kissed him.
Roberts’ own children later became central witnesses during the proceedings.
Her teenage son told investigators he saw the alleged encounter through a crack in a window and even took a photograph showing the boy on top of his mother.
In an interview played for jurors, he claimed he had seen his mother having sex with his friend through the window, per KPLC.
However, during the trial he later recanted part of his account, admitting he was not completely certain about what he had seen.
During the incident, the son also sent Roberts a text message expressing concern that his sister was crying.
The message read: "He is seventeen," which prosecutors later confirmed referred to the victim, who was actually 16 years old at the time.
Roberts’ daughter also spoke with investigators about what she witnessed.
In a recorded interview, she said she saw her mother and the boy "on top of each other" that night.
The allegations quickly brought Roberts’ political career to an abrupt end.
At the time, Roberts was serving her second term as mayor of DeRidder.
She resigned from the position days before her 2024 arrest.
Roberts was initially charged with rape. She now faces two charges of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile, according to reports.
She has pleaded not guilty.
Police launched an investigation shortly after the allegations surfaced, ultimately leading to the charges now being examined in court.
Published 11:32 03 Mar 2026 GMT
A former small-town mayor is at the center of a disturbing case, with allegations of a sexual encounter with a 16-year-old boy during a pool party.
Misty Roberts, the 43-year-old ex-mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, is facing trial for third-degree rape after she was allegedly caught by her own children having sex with the teen at a party in 2024, per The Sun.
The case has rocked the tight-knit town of 9,800 residents, and shocking details have emerged throughout the proceedings.
The incident reportedly took place at a party where alcohol was freely available.
After the encounter, Roberts allegedly ordered emergency contraception via DoorDash, as reported by the New York Post.
Prosecutors presented testimony that the victim’s mother, who was a friend of Roberts' son, reached out to the former mayor to ask if she was pregnant following the party.
Roberts reportedly reassured the mother that she was on birth control, and later shared a screenshot of this exchange with her friends.
In a group chat, Roberts’ friends encouraged her to take Plan B, the emergency contraceptive pill.
The case took another turn when a DoorDash driver testified that he received an order from someone named "Misty C" to deliver the morning-after pill to her home.
The driver, who recognized Roberts from a past Halloween event where their children had interacted, later connected the delivery to the allegations surrounding the former mayor.
Roberts’ children were critical witnesses in the trial. Her son testified that he had witnessed the disturbing scene through a crack in a window, allegedly seeing his mother and the victim in a compromising position, per PEOPLE.
However, during the trial, he recanted, admitting that he wasn’t entirely sure what he had seen.
The son also sent his mother a text during the incident, expressing concern that his sister was crying. The message read: "He is seventeen," which prosecutors later confirmed referred to the victim, who was actually 16 years old at the time.
Roberts’ daughter also took the stand. In a recorded interview with investigators, she stated that she had seen her mother and the boy "on top of each other" that night.
Duncan Clanton, Roberts’ ex-husband, gave testimony that further implicated the former mayor.
Clanton claimed that Roberts had confessed to him directly about the sexual encounter with the minor, admitting that the children had caught them in the act.
He added that their son later confirmed what Roberts had told him.
The court also examined several text exchanges between the couple, where Clanton insisted Roberts was a "great mom," but later allegedly encouraged her to "deny what happened" if approached at a town council meeting.
Roberts reportedly told Clanton: "I can’t keep hurting others, friends and family. Lord knows I’ve done enough."
The party where the alleged incident occurred was attended by a group of teens. One of the victim’s friends testified that the boy had appeared intoxicated, even vomiting at one point.
According to the witness, Roberts was seen dancing provocatively with the victim and flirting with him.
The witness recalled a photo showing Roberts in a bikini, with the victim looking up at her and smiling. This image was shown to the jury, further corroborating the claims made by those present at the party.
The victim’s friend also claimed that Roberts’ daughter had told the group of teens that she had seen her mother and the victim kissing by the pool.
The situation reportedly escalated when Roberts and the boy came downstairs, with the two reportedly having sex in front of others, leading to an argument shortly afterward.
In the wake of the allegations, Roberts, who was serving her second term as mayor of DeRidder, resigned from her position. Days later, the police launched an investigation, which ultimately led to her being charged with third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
Published 16:34 24 Nov 2025 GMT
The daughter of a "cheer mom" who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old made a heartbreaking plea to the judge during the sentencing.
Leann Yammarino, 45, pleaded no contest to two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, following a disturbing pattern of abuse that involved sending explicit messages to at least five teenagers aged 14 to 16.
Her daughter, who once shared a cheerleading squad with some of the victims, stood before Judge Keyojuan Gant-Turner on Tuesday and pleaded for the judge to hand down the harshest punishment possible.
Leann Yammarrino was sentenced to prison. Credit: Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office
Yammarino sobbed throughout her sentencing, bowing her head and appearing red-faced and tearful.
But the judge sided with the teen’s emotional plea, sentencing the mother to 26 years behind bars.
Upon release, if she lives to see it, Yammarino will be over 70 and must register as a sex offender for life.
Ascension District Attorney Ricky Babin told WBRZ 2 that the punishment fits the seriousness of the offenses.
"Her victims are minors, and it's multiple counts. It wasn't an isolated incident, so yes. In my opinion, she is," he said.
Babin added that this case is unique because the sex offender is a married mother of a teen, and was highly involved in extracurricular activities at Dutchtown.
"Unfortunately, having sexual contact with minors is way more common than you would think, so as far as the crime itself, it's not uncommon.
"I guess the number [of victims] and some of the facts that you've outlined before - the type of person this is - that would be unusual," he added.
Yammarino, 44, pleaded no contest to two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Credit: Ftwitty/Getty
The 44-year-old had been heavily involved with her daughter’s cheer team at Dutchtown High School and had been behind bars since her July 2024 arrest.
According to The New York Post, the case first came to light when a 14-year-old student accused the mom of having sex with him twice.
After that, five more teenage boys came forward, with one 15-year-old claiming he had sex with her in her vehicle.
“The 15-year-old also showed his mother an explicit photo of Leeann, which he stated Leeann sent to him over the social media platform of Snapchat,” according to the arrest affidavits obtained by PEOPLE.
“This photo depicted a white female lying in a bathtub from her belly button up to her facial area depicting Leeann’s face with both her breasts exposed along with Leeann’s face," they added.
The outlet reported that at the residence, police spoke with three other male juveniles who said they had received nude photos and videos from Yammarino.
Two more boys gave similar statements in August 2024.
Published 15:59 13 May 2023 GMT
The mother of a boy who fatally stabbed a cheerleader 114 times has been sentenced for evidence tampering after washing her son's bloody jeans.
As per the Independent, 16-year-old Aiden Fucci is currently serving life behind bars after he was prosecuted as an adult following the murder of 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey.
The murder occurred in Florida on Mother's Day (May 9) in 2021, after Bailey was reported missing from her family home.
Following the discovery of Bailey's body in the woods in St. Johns County, Police reported that the 13-year-old had been stabbed 114 times, including 49 stab wounds in her arms and right hand as it appeared as if she tried to defend herself.
A report by the St Johns County Sheriff’s Office in July 2021 revealed that Fucci had admitted to fantasizing about murder.
The then 14-year-old was arrested shortly after Bailey's body was recovered and he allegedly sent a Snapchat to his friends from the back of the police car with the caption: "Hey guys has anybody seen Tristyn lately?"
The two teenagers were aware of each other as they were classmates at Patriot Oaks Academy in St. Johns.
As reported by CNN, Fucci entered a guilty plea in February of this year and was sentenced to life behind bars, after he was determined to have been fully aware of his actions and tried as an adult.
Circuit Judge R. Lee Smith described the murder as a "devastating crime" while adding that Bailey "suffered a painful and horrifying death from someone she trusted."
Judge Smith went on: "This was not done out of greed, it was not done in retaliation, retribution, or revenge, it was not a crime of passion, it was not a crime that was committed because he felt rejected by her. It was not done in a fit of uncontrollable anger.
"There was no reason. There was no purpose. It was done for no other reason than to satisfy this defendant’s internal desire to feel what it was like to kill someone."
Following the hefty prison sentence of Fucci, his mother, Crystal Smith, has since been sentenced to five years of probation on the condition that she serves 30 days in prison.
As reported by CNN, the 38-year-old was accused of tampering with evidence of the case after she was reported to have washed her son's blood-soaked jeans following the murder.
Initially pleading not guilty, Smith soon changed her plea to no contest and will now serve the next month behind bars.
During the hearing, Stacy Bailey, the mother of the deceased 13-year-old, addressed Smith directly during a victim impact statement.
She said: "I will also pray that you will reflect upon your actions while you are without your children on this Mother’s Day."
Following his conviction, Fucci wrote a handwritten letter apologizing to Bailey's family, whilst also offering his apologies to his own family and the wider community.
Our thoughts continue to be with Bailey's loved ones.
Published 11:22 29 Apr 2024 GMT
A Louisiana criminal has agreed to undergo a physical surgical castration after being found guilty of heinous crimes against a 14-year-old girl.
On April 17, 54-year-old Glenn Sullivan Sr. pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree rape.
A statement from the 21st District Attorney Scott Perrilloux revealed that the Springfield resident “groomed” and raped his victim, and then threatened violence against her and her family in an effort to silence her.
An investigation into Sullivan’s crimes was launched in July 2022 after the teenager came forward and bravely told detectives that he had raped her “multiple times”.
What’s more, the teenager became pregnant as a result of one of the attacks, with the DA’s office revealing that further DNA tests revealed that Sullivan was the father of the child.
“So many of these types of cases go unreported because of fear. The strength it must have taken for this young woman to tell the truth in the face of threats and adversity is truly incredible,” Perrilloux said, per the New York Post.
As part of Sullivan’s plea deal, he agreed to be surgically castrated, on top of serving 50 years in prison, issued by Judge William Dykes.
Judicial Assistant District Attorney Brad Cascio said in a statement, per WBRZ: “I felt that this case was a strong enough case and warranted such action.”
Cascio continued: “Sex crimes against juveniles are the most malicious crimes we prosecute. I intend on using every tool the legislature is willing to give us, including physical castration, to seek justice for the children in our community.”
The procedure will be carried out by the Louisiana Department of Corrections, The Post reports.
In the US, physical castration is a much rarer punishment than “chemical castration”.
In 2008, the state of Louisiana passed a law that would allow officials to “chemically castrate” convicted sex offenders with a drug called medroxyprogesterone acetate.
The law adds that a male prisoner can also be physically castrated - but only if he provides written consent to the court showing he “intelligently and knowingly” agrees to the procedure.
These procedures must be performed a minimum of one week before a defendant is released.
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