BREAKING: Former DeRidder mayor indicted
Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts Clanton, 42, was indicted on Tuesday afternoon.
Clanton was arrested on Aug. 1. The Louisiana State Police began investigating her following a request from the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding a complaint of her engaging in sexual relations with a juvenile. Two juveniles confirmed the allegations during interviews, LSP said.
Clanton resigned as mayor on July 27, days after taking a sudden two-week leave. An arrest warrant was issued, and she later turned herself in. She was released on a $75,000 bond.
The original charges against her were for third-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. The grand jury returned counts of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, Beauregard Parish District Attorney James Lestage confirmed.
In Louisiana, felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile is when an individual over the age of 17 has sexual intercourse with a minor that is 13 to 16 years old.