Former New Hampshire state Rep. Stacie Marie Laughton, birth name Barry Charles Laughton Jr, was sentenced Tuesday to 33 years in prison on charges that included the sexual exploitation of children, according to Reduxx. Laughton’s former partner, Lindsay Groves, received a sentence of nearly 22 years.
Laughton became the first openly transgender person elected to a state legislature after winning a New Hampshire House seat as a Democrat in 2012. Laughton withdrew before taking office after a previous felony fraud conviction became public. That conviction resulted in four months in prison in 2008.
Laughton later won election to the state House and served between 2020 and 2022.
The child exploitation investigation began in 2023 after a person contacted the Nashua Police Department and reported receiving child sexual abuse material from Laughton. Police determined that Laughton had sent four images by text message depicting the exposed genitalia of young children.
During an interview with Nashua police, Laughton acknowledged receiving child sexual abuse images from Groves, who worked at Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.
Groves admitted taking the photographs, according to authorities. Investigators said she told police that Laughton had requested the images after expressing a sexual interest in children.
A search conducted under a warrant uncovered more than 10,000 messages exchanged between Laughton and Groves. Authorities said the messages contained explicit discussions about sexually abusing children.
Investigators determined that Groves had photographed children at the day care center and sent the images to Laughton. Some of the children were as young as 3 years old. Groves instructed children to expose themselves and took photographs during bathroom breaks or diaper changes, according to the case evidence.
On June 13, 2023, the day before their arrests, Groves sent Laughton a photograph of two 3-year-old children with their genitalia exposed. Messages cited in the case showed that the pair discussed the children in explicit sexual terms and contemplated sexual contact with them.
Other messages reviewed by authorities included Laughton questioning whether the sexual abuse of children was compatible with religious teachings and whether Laughton could continue serving as a minister. Reduxx reported that Laughton had become an ordained minister earlier in 2023.
Laughton’s defense requested a sentence of slightly more than 17 years. A defense sentencing memorandum cited Laughton’s civil-rights advocacy, legislative work and support for policies involving wages and student mental health. The filing reportedly argued that Groves bore greater responsibility for producing the images.
The court rejected the requested sentence and imposed a 33-year prison term. Groves was sentenced separately to nearly 22 years for her role in producing and distributing the child sexual abuse material.
