Boston, MA — Stacie-Marie Laughton, a former New Hampshire state representative and the first openly transgender person elected to a U.S. state legislature, has pleaded guilty to child sex abuse charges in federal court.
According to WMUR, the 41-year-old ex-lawmaker entered her plea during a recent hearing in a Boston federal courtroom, admitting to charges related to sexual exploitation of children involving child sexual abuse materials.
Federal Charges and Allegations
Federal investigators say Laughton worked with her ex-girlfriend, Lindsay Groves, to exploit young children attending a daycare center called Creative Minds in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts. Groves, who was employed at the daycare, reportedly took nude photos of children under the age of 5 and sent them to Laughton in 2022 while Laughton was still serving in office.
An affidavit filed in 2022 detailed the disturbing exchange. Investigators discovered that Laughton and Groves exchanged thousands of text messages around the time the images were shared.
“In those messages, Laughton expressed sexual interest in the children,” investigators wrote in the affidavit.
The case drew national attention after federal prosecutors in Massachusetts charged both women with possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material.
According to Fox News, Groves had taken at least four explicit photos of children during her employment at the daycare.
Political Background and Historic Election
Laughton made national headlines in 2012 when she was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives, becoming the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature in U.S. history.
However, political experts later noted that Althea Garrison, a Massachusetts state representative elected in 1992, was technically the first transgender lawmaker — though she was not publicly out until after her election.
Laughton’s own career was marred by repeated legal troubles and public controversy.
“Shortly after her election in 2012, Laughton announced she would not serve due to a prior felony credit card fraud conviction,” state officials said.
She attempted to run again in 2014, but the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission barred her from appearing on the ballot because of her suspended sentence.
Despite these setbacks, Laughton won again in 2020, representing Nashua’s Ward 3 in the New Hampshire House of Representatives until her resignation in 2022, following her arrest for a stalking incident.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Consequences
Authorities say the images shared by Groves and Laughton are now part of a broader federal investigation into online child exploitation. Laughton’s guilty plea could result in decades in federal prison under child pornography and exploitation statutes.
Groves has also been charged separately and is expected to face her own sentencing later this year. Federal prosecutors have not yet announced the recommended sentence for Laughton, but similar offenses often carry mandatory minimums of 15 years or more.
“This case reflects the devastating breach of trust by those who are supposed to protect children,” prosecutors said.
A Fall from Historic First to Federal Prison
Laughton’s story, once hailed as a breakthrough moment for LGBTQ+ representation in American politics, has now ended in disgrace. Her guilty plea has reignited debate about screening standards for public office candidates and the need for stronger oversight in child protection laws.
She remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing.
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