Former New Hampshire state representative Stacie Laughton, a biological man, once celebrated as the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature, has now pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to charges of sexually exploiting children.
The case, which has drawn national attention, centers on a disturbing exchange of explicit images of children between Laughton and her former partner, Lindsay Groves.
Federal prosecutors said Groves, who worked at Creative Minds daycare in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, took sexually explicit photos of children between the ages of three and five and sent them to Laughton.
According to investigators, the two exchanged thousands of text messages discussing the images. Officials said Laughton repeatedly asked Groves to send the photos, which were taken during routine activities such as bathroom breaks and nap times at the daycare.
Groves pleaded guilty last month to related charges, admitting to taking the photos and sending them to Laughton.
The Nashua Police Department launched the investigation after receiving a tip, which ultimately led to Laughton’s arrest in June 2023. At the time, Laughton was serving as a Democratic state representative and had positioned herself as a trailblazer in New Hampshire politics.
The case has shaken residents in Nashua and beyond, not only for its shocking details but also for what many see as a failure of oversight within the state’s political system.
Despite a lengthy criminal record that included arrests for domestic violence, sexual assault, making bomb threats, and misusing emergency services, Laughton was elected to the New Hampshire House three times. He resigned twice over separate legal issues but managed to win another term in 2022. However, he was unable to serve after being jailed on stalking charges.
Federal officials said the exploitation case represents a “pattern of disturbing and predatory behavior.” One investigator described the crimes as “a gross violation of public trust and human decency,” emphasizing that Laughton’s actions were deliberate and coordinated.
“This was not a lapse in judgment — this was the calculated exploitation of innocent children,” said one law enforcement official involved in the investigation.
Conservatives have pointed to the case as an example of how identity politics can sometimes eclipse accountability. Laughton’s criminal past was well known before his elections, yet Democratic leaders continued to support him as a symbol of inclusion and representation. Critics argue that this approach allowed serious warning signs to be ignored.
“Laughton’s story is not just about one person’s crimes,” said one local parent in Nashua. “It’s about a system that looked the other way because it wanted to make a political statement.”
Both Laughton and Groves are scheduled to be sentenced in February. They face significant prison time under federal sentencing guidelines.
For many in New Hampshire, the case marks a sobering reckoning — a reminder that moral character and public responsibility cannot be replaced by political symbolism or progressive credentials.
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