DE RIDDER, La. — The sentencing of former DeRidder mayor and registered sex offender Misty Roberts has been postponed to June 9 after her legal team requested additional time to review trial transcripts and obtain expert medical evaluations.

Ad Hoc Judge D. Kent Savoie approved the extension Wednesday, also setting May 15 as the new deadline for filing all post-trial motions. A hearing to address any motions is scheduled for May 29.

Roberts’ lead attorney, Adam Johnson, filed a motion for continuance just before the original April 3 deadline, arguing that the initial sentencing schedule was set too quickly for adequate preparation.

“After (the verdict was read) the court moved immediately into setting a sentencing date, and deadlines were set pretty quickly,” Johnson said. “In fact, I believe the court notified everyone of post-trial deadlines through text message.”

Johnson noted that Roberts’ team needed time to review three days of testimony from her March 3 trial. He said filing a motion for a new trial would require citing and including relevant transcript excerpts.

The discussion grew heated when State Prosecutor Charles Robinson called the request excessive, pointing out that Johnson had not formally requested transcripts from the Beauregard Parish court.

“Let me tell you how it works in the real world,” Johnson responded. “In the real world of law.”

Johnson said the transcripts are “relatively large” files and argued it would be wasteful to charge his client for them without knowing if a continuance would be granted.

“It would be stupid and a waste of resources for my client,” he said. “I’m not in the business of wasting my client’s money.”

The motion also cited the need for more time for Roberts to be evaluated by an expert psychiatrist specializing in mitigation. Johnson said the doctor had not had sufficient time to examine Roberts and prepare a report for the original April 17 sentencing date.

Robinson opposed the request, noting that Roberts had already been given six weeks to prepare and remains free on bond.

“That is not grounds for a continuance, in my opinion,” Robinson said. “(Johnson) has put in no effort, zero effort at all. The motion does not hold merit.”

Savoie discussed the court reporter’s timeline, noting that transcript preparation typically takes two months, but with extensions, the work could be done in one month. He also explained that the April 17 date was chosen to accommodate his upcoming knee surgery, making earlier sentencing impossible.

District Attorney James Lestage expressed disagreement with the delay but said his office would respect the court’s decision.

“We do not agree that it is necessary, but we respect the court and the judge’s decision,” Lestage said.

Roberts’ six-day trial included testimony from over a dozen witnesses, including friends, her ex-husband, and several juveniles, some of whom were her own children. The jury found her guilty of indecent behavior with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile after she was accused of sexual activity with a 16-year-old boy during her son’s 15th birthday party.

Roberts will remain free on bond until her rescheduled sentencing.