05/28/2026
The "Mayor Misty" case from Southwest Louisiana is making headlines today that raises two important questions many people never think about until they are facing charges themselves: (1) Can a person who is convicted at trial request a new trial and (2) What happens to your bond after a conviction?
Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts was convicted on March 3 of felony s*x crimes involving a juvenile. Today, a judge heard her attorneys' motion for a new trial. Under Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure Article 853, a motion for new trial must generally be filed and resolved before sentencing. Her sentencing, currently scheduled for June 9, has not yet occurred — which is precisely the window in which this motion is being heard.
A motion for new trial is not an appeal. It is a post-verdict request made to the same trial court, asking the judge to set aside the jury's verdict and begin the proceedings again. Louisiana law identifies specific grounds on which such a motion may be granted, including newly discovered evidence, prosecutorial misconduct, or a verdict that is contrary to the law and the evidence.
Ultimately in this case, the judge denied the new trial and the next step is sentencing. This leads to the next question: why was Roberts allowed to remain free after the jury convicted her? Courts may permit those in the timeline between conviction and sentencing to remain on bond if the bondsman agrees. In this matter Roberts' surety bond contained a stipulation permitting her bondsman to extend the bond until sentencing. This is not common, and it illustrates how the specific terms of a bond agreement can have significant consequences — both before and after trial, which is why hiring the right criminal attorney is so important.
If you or a family member are facing criminal charges in Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish, or Southwest Louisiana, understanding your rights at every stage of the process — from bond to verdict to post-conviction motions — matters enormously.
Colonna Law Firm, LLC offers a free 30-minute consultation.
Call (337) 656-3212
www.colonnalawfirm.com
📍 900 Ryan Street, Suite 402 | Lake Charles, LA 70601
Former DeRidder mayor Misty Roberts has requested a new trial after her conviction on child s*x charges.
