[snip]
Laughton, who authorities identify using feminine pronouns, is accused of working with her ex-girlfriend Lindsay Groves to exploit children at a daycare center called Creative Minds in Tyngsboro, Massachusetts.
Groves, a former employee of the daycare center, took nude photographs of children and sent them to Laughton in 2022, while Laughton served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
Former New Hampshire lawmaker Stacie-Marie Laughton pleaded guilty in federal court to child sex abuse charges. (Nashua Police Department; Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
According to an affidavit filed that year, authorities said that Groves took four photos of children under the age of 5.
[snip]
When Laughton was elected as a state representative in 2012, she was considered to be the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature. She was also the first one in New Hampshire’s history.
Authorities said Lindsay Groves used her position at the daycare to take the illegal photos later shared with Laughton. (Nashua Police Department)
[snip]
Laughton’s political career was marked by complications and legal troubles. Shortly after Laughton was elected in 2012, she announced that she would not serve due to previous felony-level credit card fraud convictions.
She tried to run again in 2014, but the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission denied her request on the basis of the suspended sentence. In 2020, Laughton ran to represent the New Hampshire House of Representatives for District 31 and won.
Laughton’s plea follows years of legal and personal controversy dating back to her 2012 election. (Hudon Police Department)
She represented Nashua’s Ward 3 until 2022, when she resigned after being arrested over a stalking incident.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
* Original Article:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/transgender-ex-lawmaker-first-states-history-pleads-guilty-federal-child-sex-abuse-charges