Stacie Laughton, who served in New Hampshire’s House of Representatives from 2020 to 2022 and was the nation’s first openly transgender lawmaker, was arrested this Thursday on charges of distributing child sex abuse images, ABC 15 reported.
Laughton’s case is connected to the case of Massachusetts preschool worker Lindsay Groves, who allegedly took photos of children while they were in the bathroom.
“Groves allegedly 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 [an unnamed individual] via text message,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a press release.
Laughton has had legal trouble before. In 2015 she was arrested after claiming responsibility for a bomb threat that was made to the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.
“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 told the New Hampshire Union Leader at the time. She was also arrested and jailed last year on stalking charges.
As Metro Weekly reported at the time, Laughton’s win in New Hampshire “not only made history in the state, but for the broader trans movement as Laughton became the first out trans person ever elected to a seat in a state legislature.”
“We are people, too, who still have talents and ideas,” Laughton told the Nashau Telegraph at the time. “And I hope that people won’t be afraid to get into politics, or any other position, for that matter. I want the community to feel inspired.”
