good-time credit<\/i><\/a> available under Louisiana law, the time Misty actually serves is expected to be shorter and she intends to begin serving it without delay, complete it, and meet every condition the Court has set. She was sincere, strong, and apologetic for her actions in her address to the Court today and we believe that also had a real impact on this outcome.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\nRoberts addressed Judge Savoie directly, expressing remorse for her actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI blame myself then, I blame myself today, and I will blame myself for the rest of my life,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI let a lot of people down, and I am the only person responsible for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
She described July 20, the date of the incident, as hitting \u201cthe absolute floor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat an embarrassment I\u2019ve been to this city,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve made a mess of all of this, but it certainly was not my intent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roberts said her fear of losing her children drove her to ask others to lie about what happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feared that day that he would leave and take my children and I\u2019d never see them again,\u201d she said, referring to her ex-husband, Duncan Clanton.<\/p>\n
She closed her remarks with an appeal to the court centered on motherhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have to move mountains. I didn\u2019t have to shake the world. I just had to cook dinner,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cI just want to be their mom. I\u2019m here just asking for grace and mercy and the opportunity to do what the Lord has asked me to do, which is be a mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also addressed the victim\u2019s family directly: \u201cTo the [victim\u2019s] family, I am sorry. I can\u2019t give back the high school days… I can\u2019t take away the embarrassment that so many mean people on the internet have put them through.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first impact statement was from Holly Jones, speaking on behalf of her husband and son, who is one of the victim\u2019s friends. Her testimony revolved around what Roberts did to her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt only 14 years old, our son was planted in the middle of an adult criminal case,\u201d Jones told the court.<\/p>\n
Jones went on to say that instead of her son having a normal high school, \u201che was instead pulled into years of court hearings, media, and delays. We respectfully ask the court to consider the impact the case has had on not only the victims but the families.\u201d<\/p>\n
The court also heard from the victim\u2019s mother. She opened her statement by setting the scene: \u201cA simple birthday party. A gathering of friends and family. The kind of night that should have ended in laughter and memories.\u201d<\/p>\n
She went on to say, \u201cThis predator was not hiding in a van carrying candy or a puppy. This danger came from a predator with hair extensions, high heels, Botox, and other modifications.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also said the pain didn\u2019t end the night of the incident or the trial. She turned to Roberts and her attorneys and said, \u201cThe attorneys you hired claimed we put your kids on the stand. Oh no, Miss, that\u2019s you. My heart broke for all the kids that we forced to relive that night.\u201d <\/p>\n
She said pointedly, \u201cYour team flat-out lied and was very disrespectful throughout this trial.\u201d<\/p>\n
She described finding her son sitting alone in his room for hours at a time and hearing crying in the night. She said every milestone came with a shadow.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery social event carried questions no teenager should have to ask,\u201d she said. \u201cHalf of his high school experience was taken from him.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also recounted a man at a baseball game yelling a derogatory phrase at her son while he was up to bat, illustrating the public toll the case has taken on her family.<\/p>\n
She ended her remarks by turning toward Roberts and saying, \u201cStay the hell away from my family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assistant District Attorney Charles Robinson minced no words in the opening remarks of his argument.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re talking about an elected public official who had sex with a child at a children\u2019s birthday party,\u201d Robinson said, noting the party was for a child turning 15.<\/p>\n
Robinson argued Roberts\u2019 expressions of remorse were not genuine, pointing to a text message in which Roberts appeared to confirm the sexual encounter took place, contradicting her claims of having no memory of the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen she says \u2018I was victimized,\u2019 it\u2019s laughable to think that it\u2019s consistent with accountability,\u201d Robinson said.<\/p>\n
Robinson also raised concerns about the defense\u2019s expert witness, a clinical psychologist retained to evaluate Roberts\u2019 likelihood of reoffending. Robinson noted the psychologist had not been provided with the key photo at the center of the case, which appears to show Roberts on top of the victim, before writing her report. <\/p>\n
He also accused the psychologist of dodging direct questions on the stand about how the conviction factored into her findings.<\/p>\n
The state asked for the maximum sentence of 17 years.<\/p>\n
Defense attorney Adam Johnson argued his client had taken full responsibility and that the court should not be swayed by public pressure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are not guided by what angry people on Facebook or news stories will think about it,\u201d Johnson said in a stern tone that echoed through the room. \u201cThe noise stops at those courtroom doors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson made a remark about the victim\u2019s age, telling Judge Savoie, \u201cThe fact that this case was a couple of months away from not being a crime is a valid point to me, Judge.\u201d He repeated the point later, saying, \u201cLess than two months and it would have been massively inappropriate but not a crime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson also addressed the state\u2019s request for a maximum sentence, saying it was excessive and cruel.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s not a predator. There is no evidence of that,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
He argued that under the law, Roberts should receive a suspended sentence with therapy and continued sex offender registration, adding, \u201cIf you give her a suspended sentence, you\u2019re not going to get as many likes.\u201d Johnson was referring to the social media response.<\/p>\n
He also pleaded with the judge not to separate Roberts from her children.<\/p>\n
The defense\u2019s expert, clinical psychologist Dr. Sasha Lambert, testified that Roberts had less than a 3% chance of reoffending, a figure she said is universal among women, with Roberts potentially scoring even lower. Lambert also testified that on the night of the incident, Roberts was experiencing a mental health crisis, had a documented alcohol problem, and showed signs of mood decompensation. <\/p>\n
However, Lambert acknowledged under questioning that Roberts did not fully recognize or accept what she had been convicted of. All of this was gathered from several interviews and tests conducted by Lambert on Roberts post-conviction.<\/p>\n
Just after the sentence was handed down, Prosecutor Robinson asked the judge that Roberts be immediately drug tested. He accused her of using narcotics during the last court hearings, claiming she had sores on her mouth.<\/p>\n
The judge denied that request after Defense Attorney Johnson incredulously responded, saying it was just another shot at his and Todd Clemons\u2019 client.<\/p>\n
Roberts is eligible for an appeal bond set at $75,000 per charge, $150,000 total. Her attorneys said she will not pursue it.<\/p>\n
She will serve her 90 days in jail and, upon release, will be required to undergo regular drug screenings and psychological therapy. Her two five-year suspended sentences will remain in place and can be activated if she violates the terms of her release.<\/p>\n
Roberts will remain a registered sex offender.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Copyright 2026 KPLC. All rights reserved.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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