Transgender New Hampshire Democrat arrested distributing child pornography a year after she resigned
The nation’s first elected transgender politician, who previously served as a state representative in the New Hampshire legislature, has been arrested on charges of distributing child pornography.
Stacie-Marie Laughton, a biological man living as a woman, was elected in 2012 but was unable to serve after her criminal past came to light in which she was sentenced to probation following a 2008 credit card fraud conviction.
Laughton, 39, was arrested again on Thursday and faces four charges of distributing sexually explicit images of children depicting child sexual abuse.
Nashua Police Department began an investigation into the allegations after receiving a tip.
Laughton allegedly obtained photos of young children attending a daycare center in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, 35 miles northwest of Boston.
Stacie-Marie Laughton, 39, who formerly served as New Hampshire State Representative, has been arrested on charges of distributing child pornography
Laughton, a former Democratic representative who is transgender, has a long criminal history dating back to 2002
Detectives then investigated the allegations and Laughton was promptly arrested.
“They spoke to reporters who indicated that Laughton was distributing sexually explicit images of children,” said Sgt. So said John Cinelli of the Nashua Police Department.
Detectives from the Special Investigations Division were appointed to continue the investigation. They applied for and received a warrant for Laughton’s arrest.’
According to the charging documents seen by the Union leaderLaughton is said to have received photos from Lindsay Groves, an employee of the Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough, with whom she previously had an intimate relationship.
The documents do not specifically state that Laughton is the person, but posts on Laughton’s social media suggest that the pair were in a relationship together.
Laughton, a former Democratic representative, has faced multiple charges over the years
Laughton now faces four counts of distributing child sexual abuse images allegedly taken at a local daycare center
Lindsay Groves, right, a childcare worker in Tyngsborough, has also been arrested. She had previously seen an intimate relationship with Laughton, left
Groves, pictured, who has also been arrested, allegedly took nude photos of children in the nursery and sent them to Laughton
Groves, who has also been arrested, allegedly took nude photos of children at the nursery and sent them to Laughton.
According to the affidavit, Groves “reportedly used natural bathroom breaks for the kids,” such as “routine diaper changes prior to naptime … to take multiple photos of the prepubescent kids in a private bathroom and then sent the photos to the (former intimate partner) via text with reportedly 2,500 texts.
Laughton, a former Democratic representative, has faced multiple charges over the years.
Her long criminal history goes back to 2002, when she was arrested in that year for domestic violence/criminal mischief and in 2003 for assaulting a woman.
In 2015, she was arrested for voicing a bomb threat against Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.
In 2021, she was arrested again for misusing the state’s 911 text messaging 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 again and faces four counts of spreading sexually explicit images of children depicting 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.
But again, she couldn’t take office because she was imprisoned 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 totally out of character.
“I’ve had mental illness all my life, and I think this was my worst break with it. I was untreated for a long time and on no medication,” Laughton told the Leader of the New Hampshire Union after he was arrested for voicing a bomb threat.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone, and that didn’t fit my character at all. I’ve left a lot behind and I never thought I wouldn’t in a million years.”