Disturbing rumors of ex-Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts having illicit relationships with teenage boys and stints in rehab had already dogged the disgraced leader before she landed in court for bedding her son’s 16-year-old friend, according to shocking court records.
The small-town gossip was apparently damaging enough that Roberts’ lawyers fought to ban it from her trial on sex crime charges, in which she was swiftly found guilty Tuesday of having sex with her son’s 16-year-old best friend.
The motion sought to block “any testimony concerning rumors or suggestions of inappropriate behavior between Ms. Roberts and any members, players, or persons otherwise associated” with the local Beauregard County High School baseball team team from being admissible at the trial.
It wasn’t immediately clear if or how the judge had decided on the defense’s requests in that motion, which also sought to ban any of the accused predator’s medical records – including “any testimony concerning Ms. Roberts going to rehabilitation or seeking rehabilitation before or after the time of the allegations.”
The 43-year-old mother-of-two was found guilty Tuesday on charges of of carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile about two years after she was caught raping the teen boy at a booze-fueled pool party for her own son’s birthday.
The then-mayor – clad for the occasion in an orange bikini – flirted openly with the teen and posed for creepy photos with him during the party, before luring him to the home’s “bonus room,” stripping and having sex with the boy, according to court docs and witness testimony.
Court records say Roberts’ own son and nephew allegedly snapped footage of the lewd scene – evidence that her lawyers also demanded be kept out of the courtroom, seemingly out of fear that it may stir up more concerns about the ex-leader’s behaviors.
“Any testimony concerning any claim or suggestion that any person(s) ‘finally’ had proof of Ms. Roberts’ allegedly inappropriate behavior after obtaining video of the incident, thus suggesting the occurrence of prior inappropriate conduct” should be inadmissible, the motion states.
Among the other topics the defense sought to keep out of trial included the accused predator’s former marriage to Duncan Clanton – to whom she reportedly sent frantic and potentially incriminating texts following the pool party, including one that read, “I f—ked up” – as well as any details surrounding the couple’s divorce.
Clanton could not be reached for comment.
New details obtained by The Post from court docs also reveal that Roberts – who witnesses have testified was drinking heavily on the night of the pool party – wanted to cowardly blame the romp on being too boozed up.
Roberts “will introduce testimony and evidence of her intoxicated/impaired condition (medication/alcohol) (involuntary/voluntary) at the time of the alleged offenses and that, as such….she is exempt from criminal responsibility in this case,” a defense motion filed on May 9 states.
It’s unclear whether Roberts has ever claimed that she was involuntarily intoxicated on the night in question, or if she had taken drugs.
Roberts’ attorneys did not respond to requests for comment.
