CONTENT NOTICE: This article contains disturbing details regarding the sexual abuse and sexualization of very young children. Reader discretion is appreciated.
A male politician credited with being the first openly transgender representative elected in the United States has now been charged with one count of the sexual exploitation of children, adding to the child pornography charges he had been handed last month.
Stacie Marie Laughton, born Barry Charles Laughton Jr., was described as a “woman” in a press release issued by the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.
39-year-old Laughton was formerly a Democratic representative in New Hampshire, first elected to the legislature in 2012. He became known as the first openly transgender individual to hold public office in the United States, but withdrew before taking the role when it was revealed that he had served four months in prison in 2008 on a felony conviction for identity and credit card fraud and falsifying physical evidence.
A special election was scheduled a few weeks later, and Laughton signed up to run again. But officials barred him from holding public office as, according to state law, he had not completed his sentence.
After the sentence related to the 2008 conviction was exhausted, Laughton was allowed to run for office again in 2019. He was elected selectman in 2011, 2019, and 2021. He was also elected state representative in 2020.
Laughton won his most recent election in November of 2022, but he resigned less than one month after securing the seat following scrutiny for yet another criminal conviction. It was learned that just two months prior to his election, he had been charged with violating a stalking order that had been from an unidentified woman.
Laughton’s most recent criminal charge involves his former partner, Lindsay Groves, 38. Groves is alleged to have used her job in a daycare to take photos of the children’s genitals in a private restroom before sending the abuse material to Laughton.
Groves had been employed at Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts since 2017 when she was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child sexual abuse material along with Laughton.
Since the horrifying revelations of the abuse have come to light, the mother of a young boy who had been enrolled at the daycare has filed a civil lawsuit against Creative Minds.
According to the Boston Herald, the complaint, which was filed Monday with Middlesex Superior Court, the plaintiffs argue that the child victim “was caused to suffer, and will continue to suffer, severe and significant physical and emotional injuries; embarrassment, and emotional distress” as a direct result of the daycare’s “negligence and carelessness as well as the invasion of his privacy…”
The lawsuit has also revealed that the daycare was reportedly informed years ago that Groves had been inappropriate with one of the children, and had been warned yet again last year, but took no action.
Groves revealed to investigators that she would direct the victims to pull their shirts towards their heads so “their vision would be obscured” while their pants were down at their ankles. While their vision was obscured, she used her iPhone to capture images of their genitalia. She would then send these photos to Laughton.
The photos were taken during bathroom breaks or routine diaper changes before the children took naps.
The most recent court filings reveal that several disturbing text conversations regarding the victimized children took place between Laughton and Groves from May to June of this year.
On June 13, just days before their initial arrest, Groves sent Laughton a photo of a three-year-old boy with his genitals exposed and a second photo of a three-year-old girl with her genitals exposed.
Groves said, “I took these for you today so I’m horny.”
Laughton responded, “I like that I would like to see more of the pussy but I like that it[’s] fucking hot,” and asked, “Is that one of the girls we get to play with[?]”
Groves boasted neither of the child victims “gave her an issue.”
Laughton continued: “That girl looks sweet … Do you think she would like sucking me and me rubbing my dick on her?” To which Groves responded, “Yeah.”
Laughton added, “It’s just a bummer she wont let me put my dick inside of her,” and Groves answered, “She’s not even 3 yet.”
The next morning, Laughton wrote to Groves in a lengthy, nervous message: “And I’m sorry I talk so much but the other thing I think about is do you think God is OK with us being bad girls[?]”
He continued, “…[some people] say having sex with kids is a bad thing and God never addresses sex with children in the Bible and God never really condemns say different sexual lifestyles but what do you think? Do you think we still have a place in heaven? Do you think God would still be OK with me being a minister[?]”
As previously revealed by Reduxx, Laughton became an ordained Minister and delivered his first sermon on YouTube earlier this year. According to GetOrdained, Laughton affiliated himself with Buddhism, Methodism, New Age, Oneness Pentecostalism, Pentecostalism, Protestantism, Rastafarianism, Spiritualism, Tibetan Buddhism, Unitarian Universalism, and the Universal Life Church.
Groves replied to Laughton’s concerns about his spirituality, writing: “Yes, God is ok with it and we will still go to heaven and he thinks you be a great minister.”
Later that same day, Groves sent Laughton another photo of another three-year-old boy.
Laughton responded, “…I mean yes that picture was hot of that little boy but you probably have gotten the picture by now that I prefer a little girls, but he is cute. I’d like to see you put your hand around his penis.”
Homeland Security Agents have confirmed with the children’s parents that the children victimized in the photographs were all only three years old.
On June 15, another text message exchange included Laughton instructing Groves on how to take more photos of the children.
“If you take one or 2 [pictures] today can you hold the dick or put your finger in the girl,” he asked. “Do you think you can do any kissing their dick or kiss the pussy or someplace[?]”
Groves answered: “I’ll do my best.”
The US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts announced that Laughton will be formally charged in the John Joseph Moakley federal courthouse in Boston, but no appearance date has yet been set. Laughton was referred to with “she/her” pronouns by the Attorney’s Office.
Groves is also being held in custody with no set date for her next court appearance.
Sentences for sexual exploitation of children are a minimum of 15 years and maximum of 30 years in prison. Upon release, a minimum of five years supervision is required but a maximum of a lifetime supervision is possible. Fines go up to $250,000.
Multiple media outlets reporting on Laughton’s case have referred to him as a “woman,” or by using feminine pronouns to describe him.
Reduxx is your source of pro-woman, pro-child safeguarding news and commentary. We’re 100% independent! Support our mission by joining our Patreon, or consider making a one-time donation.
