NH's First Transgender Lawmaker Sentenced to 33 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation

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A former transgender New Hampshire state legislator who pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children last year was sentenced to 33 years in prison.

Stacie Laughton (biological male), a Democrat who was elected to the New Hampshire House three times and resigned twice over legal problems, was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison in connection to child sex crimes on Thursday.

In 2023, Laughton, 41, of Nashua, New Hampshire, and his former intimate partner and daycare worker, Lindsay Groves, were charged with child exploitation.

Groves admitted to taking sexually explicit photos of children at the daycare center and sending them to Laughton.

“Groves worked at Creative Minds located in Tyngsborough, Mass. Between May 2022 and June 2023, Groves took nude images of children at the day care and sent the photos to Laughton, with whom he was previously in an intimate relationship,” the DOJ said.

“Specifically, Groves used natural bathroom breaks for the children (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 Laughton via text message,” the DOJ said.

Laughton was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children – and aiding and abetting, according to the DOJ.

“According to the charging documents, a preliminary forensic review of Groves’ cellphone allegedly revealed over 10,000 text messages between Laughton and Groves that included discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs that Groves had taken of children while employed at Creative Minds daycare – including at least four sexually explicit images of children who appear to be approximately three to five years old, as well as explicit descriptions of sex with each other and others, including children,” the DOJ said last year.

Groves was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography.

“The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000,” the DOJ previously said.

Groves was sentenced to 22 years in prison earlier this month.