A former Louisiana mayor who suddenly resigned has been charged with raping a minor while in office.
Misty Roberts Clanton, former mayor of DeRidder, announced her resignation last week and was arrested Thursday on charges of having sex with a minor.
Louisiana State Police said in a news release Thursday that Clanton, 42, “engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor victim while serving as mayor.”
According to the agency’s Special Victim’s Unit, detectives spoke with two minors who confirmed that Clanton had sex with one of them, police said.
On Thursday, Clanton turned himself in and was booked into the Beauregard Parish Detention Center on a charge of third-degree rape.
Misty Roberts Clanton, former mayor of DeRidder, announced her resignation last week and was arrested Thursday on charges of having sex with a minor
Louisiana State Police said in a news release Thursday that Clanton, 42, “engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor victim while serving as mayor.”
She was released more than an hour later on $75,000 bail. Her attorney, Adam Johnson, said in a statement that she was innocent.
He said: ‘It is my honour to represent Misty Roberts. My client learned of a warrant late last night, despite not being contacted for questioning prior to investigators obtaining the warrant.
“My client claims to be innocent and, as it stands, she is in fact innocent. She has not been charged with a crime and/or convicted of a crime.
‘And we trust that the public will respect its 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 us.”
Just a week ago, Clanton announced she would be out of office for two weeks. On Friday, she appointed a mayor, then resigned the next day.
Clanton was in the middle of his second term as mayor of the city and won re-election in 2022 with 60 percent of the vote.
In her letter of resignation she wrote: ‘My love and passion for DeRidder have formed the basis of my office as mayor for almost 15 years.
“I will always be proud of what we have been able to achieve together. This role has rewarded me with many great relationships.
“I am humbled to have witnessed the hard work it took for a community to come together and get through unprecedented times, but I must adjust my focus and priorities.
Please consider this letter as my formal resignation, effective today.
“To the people of this city: Thank you for your trust, love and support in me to lead our city into our future of greatness. My love for DeRidder will never waver.”
Clanton was in the middle of his second term as mayor of the city and was re-elected in 2022 with 60 percent of the vote.