NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Stacie-Marie Laughton has been arrested by Nashua Police Department on the charges of distributing child pornography. A biological male, who went on to become the country's first elected transgender politician in 2020, served as a state representative in the New Hampshire. The officials initiated an investigation after receiving a tip off, alleging Laughton possess photos of young children who attended daycare in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. Detectives had enough evidence to make a quick arrest, “They spoke with reporting parties that indicated Laughton distributed sexually explicit images of children,” said Sgt John Cinelli of the Nashua Police Department. ”Detectives from the special investigations division were assigned to further the investigation. They applied for and were granted a warrant for Laughton's arrest.”
Who is Stacie-Marie Laughton?
Stacie-Marie Laughton is an ex-Democrat representative who served from 2020 to 2022. The 39-year-old is facing multiple charges over the years, including a 2008 felony conviction for committing credit card fraud. On Thursday, June 22, on counts of distributing sexually explicit images of children that depicts sexual abuse, she was taken in custody. The investigators allegedly found she received photographs from Lindsay Groves, a worker at the Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough.
It is said that she was previously involved with him in a romantic relationship. It is reported that Groves is also under police custody for allegedly taking nude images of children at the daycare and sharing them. As per the affidavit, Groves “allegedly used natural bathroom breaks for the children”' which comprises “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, as per the Daily Mail.
'I wasn't trying to hurt anyone'
Laughton, despite a criminal past, contested for a second term in 2022 and won representation for Nashua, New Hampshire. However, she was not able to take office since she had been jailed over stalking charges. "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 before adding "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."
