Stacie-Marie Laughton, who became one of the nation’s first transgender state lawmakers in 2012, has been arrested on child pornography charges.
Laughton, 39, was arrested Thursday on four counts of distribution of child sex abuse images. Sgt. John Cinelli, the public information officer for the Nashua Police Department, said investigators got a tip about the crimes after visiting a local juvenile facility.
“They spoke with reporting parties that indicated Laughton distributed,” Sgt. John Cinelli said. “Detectives from the special investigations division were assigned to further the investigation. They applied for and were granted a warrant for Laughton’s arrest.”
Laughton was first elected in 2012 but was never seated after it was revealed that he had been involved in a credit card fraud scheme.
Laughton resigned and was never seated, but did attempt to re-file in a subsequent special election. This was not allowed after it was revealed that Laughton would be ineligible to run for at least 10 years as a result of the fraud conviction.
According to MSN:
After paying restitution on the fraud charge from 2008 and serving the good behavior clause, Laughton was allowed to run for office again in 2019. Laughton was elected state representative in 2020. She was elected selectman in 2011, 2019, and 2021.
She was arrested in July 2021 on seven counts of penalty for false information, accused of misusing the state’s 911 texting system.
According to a report on Patch, she claimed she was being spoofed at the time.
Laughton was re-elected again in November 2022 but resigned after being arrested again, accused of stalking a woman in Hudson.
The stalking incidents occurred in late August 2022 and she was arrested in early September.
She was able to keep the arrest under wraps and away from voters, and easily placed second in the primary. She was arrested again after the November election.
🇺🇸🏳️⚧️ America’s first transgender State Rep. Stacie-Marie Laughton was arrested for 4 counts of distribution of child pornography pic.twitter.com/fr2101usr6
— Aprajita Choudhary 🦋 (@aprajitanefes) June 23, 2023
BREAKING: STACIE MARIE LAUGHTON
Former New Hampshire representative and the Nation’s first transgender-identifying state lawmaker arrested on disturbing child pornography.
“Nashua Police Department public information officer Sgt. John Cinelli said that police were called to… pic.twitter.com/W9e2hedRhK
— R3ap3r (@grimsr3ap3r79) June 23, 2023
Suspected pedophile, Barry Laughton Jr. also known as Stacie Marie Laughton, was an ordained minister at the Universal Life Church. One could only imagine how many children he came into contact with… pic.twitter.com/3P4etQ1zSn
— John Stark News (@John_Stark_News) June 23, 2023