Former Louisiana mayor arrested, accused of juvenile rape

( NewsNation ) — The former mayor of a small Louisiana town was arrested and booked on charges of third-degree rape of a juvenile on Thursday, according to Louisiana State Police .

Misty Roberts, 42, is accused of having sexual intercourse with one juvenile while she was mayor of DeRidder, La., a town of approximately 10,000 people.

Roberts turned herself in to local police after a warrant was obtained by investigators. Roberts was released shortly after on a $75,000 bond.

Police began investigating on July 26, the day prior to Roberts’ resignation as mayor. The reasoning for her resignation was a need to “adjust my focus on priorities,” the statement, obtained by Today’s Country 105.7, reads .

Roberts’ attorney Adam Johnson issued a statement to KPLC-TV , protesting for his client’s innocence following her arrest.

“My client maintains her innocence and, as it stands, she is in fact innocent,” Johnson said.

“She has not been charged with a crime and/or convicted of any crime,” he added. “And we trust the public will respect her constitutional presumption of innocence, which is fundamental to our system of justice.”

Roberts was the first female mayor of DeRidder.

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