The country’s first elected transgender politician, who formerly served as a state representative in the New Hampshire legislature has been arrested on charges of distributing child pornography.
Stacie-Marie Laughton, a biological male who lives as a woman, was elected in 2012, but was unable to serve after her criminal past emerged in which she was sentenced to probation stemming from a 2008 felony conviction for credit card fraud.
On Thursday, Laughton, 39, was arrested yet again and faces four counts of distributing sexually explicit images of children that depict child sexual abuse.
Nashua Police Department began an investigation into the allegations after receiving a tip off.
Laughton is alleged to have obtained photos of young children who attended a daycare in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, 35 miles northwest of Boston.
Stacie-Marie Laughton, 39, who formerly served as a New Hampshire state representative has been arrested on charges of distributing child porn
Laughton, a former Democrat representative who is transgender, has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2002
Detectives then looked into the allegations and Laughton was promptly arrested.
‘They spoke with reporting parties that indicated Laughton distributed sexually explicit images of children,’ Sgt. John Cinelli of the Nashua Police Department said.
‘Detectives from the special investigations division were assigned to further the investigation. They applied for and were granted a warrant for Laughton’s arrest.’
According to the charging documents seen by the Union Leader, Laughton was allegedly sent photos by Lindsay Groves, a worker at the Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough, with whom she was previously in an intimate relationship.
The documents do not specifically state that Laughton is the individual but posts on Laughton’s social media suggest the pair was in a relationship together.
Laughton, a former Democrat representative, has faced multiple charges over the years
Laughton now faces four counts of distributing images depicting child sexual abuse which are alleged to have been taken at a local children’s daycare
Lindsay Groves, right, a worker at a daycare in Tyngsborough, has also been arrested. She was previously in an intimate relationship with Laughton, seen left
Groves, pictured, who has also been arrested, allegedly took nude images of children at the daycare and sent them to Laughton
Groves, who has also been arrested, allegedly took nude images of children at the daycare and sent them to Laughton.
According to the affidavit, Groves ‘allegedly used natural bathroom breaks for the children,’ such as ‘routine diaper pull-up changes prior to naptime … to take multiple photos of the prepubescent children in a private bathroom and then sent the photos to the (former intimate partner) via text message’ with an alleged 2,500 texts.
Laughton, a former Democrat representative, has faced multiple charges over the years.
Her lengthy criminal history dates back to 2002, when she was arrested for domestic violence/criminal mischief in that year and a sexual assault charge against a woman in 2003.
In 2015, she was arrested for making a bomb threat against the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.
In 2021, she was arrested once again for misusing the state’s 911 texting system.
Despite her criminal past, Laughton still ran for a second term in 2022 and was elected to represent Nashua, New Hampshire
On Thursday, Laughton, 39, was arrested yet again and faces facing four counts distributing sexually explicit images of children that depict child sexual abuse
Laughton has blamed her past criminal behavior on mental illness and untreated conditions.
Despite her criminal past, Laughton still ran for a second term in 2022 and was elected to represent Nashua, New Hampshire.
However, once again, she was unable to take office having been jailed on stalking charges.
Laughton has blamed her past criminal behavior on mental illness and untreated conditions.
She expressed remorse and stated that their actions were completely out of character.
‘I have had a mental illness my whole life, and I guess this was my worst break with it. I was untreated for a long time, and I didn’t have medication,’ Laughton shared in an interview with the New Hampshire Union Leader after being arrested for making a bomb threat.
‘I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, and it was totally out of character for me. I have put a lot behind me, and I never thought I would do this in a million years.’
