Full Breakdown
Former New Hampshire Lawmaker Sentenced to 33 Years for Child Exploitation
6/20/2026, 7:55:01 AM
Sentencing Overview
Former New Hampshire state rep Stacie-Marie Laughton received a federal sentence of just over 33 years on June 18, 2026 for three counts of child sexual exploitation. Her former partner, Lindsay Groves, was sentenced to 22 years for taking nude photos of children aged three to five at Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough, MA, and sending them to Laughton.
Background
Laughton, New Hampshire’s first openly transgender elected official, won a legislative seat in 2012 but resigned before taking office after a prior felony surfaced. She later served in the state House until resigning in Dec 2022 following a stalking arrest. Prosecutors noted a history of threats, credit-card fraud, false 911 calls, and a 2022 emergency-services call for a taxi.
Key Figures & Agencies
Defendants: Stacie-Marie Laughton (former NH rep, Nashua) and Lindsay Groves (former daycare worker, Hudson, NH). Involved: Creative Minds, Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, DOJ Project Safe Childhood, Mass. State Police, Homeland Security Investigations.
Timeline
2012: Laughton elected (resigned before office). Dec 2022: Resigned after stalking arrest. May 2022–Jun 2023: Groves photographed children. Jun 2023: Investigation; daycare closed. Oct 2025: Groves guilty. Nov 2025: Laughton guilty. Jun 18 2026: Sentencing.
Data Summary
Over 10,000 texts were exchanged in a month of 2023. Victims were children aged three to five. Laughton faced three counts; Groves faced three plus one child-pornography count.
Impact & Significance
The case closed Creative Minds, heightened scrutiny of elected officials, and reinforced DOJ’s Project Safe Childhood. Both defendants must register as sex offenders.
On-the-Ground Reports
Parents across the region expressed shock, and local media reported widespread concern for child safety.
Official Statements
Federal prosecutors called the conduct abhorrent and said it was deliberately organized for sexual gratification. The sentencing memorandum said Laughton displayed entitlement, aggression, and manipulation. Defense attorney Derege B. Demissie described her as complex, citing a troubled upbringing with abuse, developmental delays, self-harm, substance use, and mental-health treatment.
Criticism & Opposition
Prosecutors argued Laughton’s background did not mitigate the crimes and that her public-trust role amplified the harm, describing her as having grandiose delusions and a pattern of manipulation that justified the lengthy sentence.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list Laughton’s age as 39, 41, and 42, and differ on whether her sentence is “just over 33 years” or “more than 33 years.” Groves’s sentence is reported as “nearly 22 years” or “22 years.” No victim-family statements were provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The conduct at issue here is abhorrent,” — Federal prosecutors
- “These were children who were not yet fully potty trained, not old enough to even go to the bathroom themselves, and not fully verbal.” — Federal prosecutors
- “I don’t like that I have these but I wanted to show you the proof. I am not a kid pervert.” — Stacie-Marie Laughton, text message
- “The defendant’s criminal history reflects a theme: entitlement, aggression, and manipulation,” — Federal prosecutors
What’s Next
Both must register as sex offenders after release. The criminal case is now closed.
