A former New Hampshire lawmaker who is transgender has been sentenced to over 30 years in federal prison after admitting to receiving explicit photos of children from a daycare center in Massachusetts.
Stacey Marie Lawton, 41, from Nashua, pleaded guilty to child sexual exploitation and received a sentence of more than 33 years in prison, according to reports. Lawton obtained the explicit images from her former partner, Lindsey Groves, 40, also from New Hampshire, who was sentenced to 22 years earlier this month.
Groves had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of distributing child pornography. She was employed at Creative Minds Day Care in Chingsboro, Massachusetts, where authorities stated she took multiple photos of prepubescent children in a private bathroom during routine diaper changes.
These photos were then sent to Lawton via text message, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
A forensic investigation into their cellphones revealed over 10,000 text messages exchanged between Lawton and Groves within just one month in 2023. Court documents indicated that these messages included discussions about, and the forwarding of, explicit images featuring children, including one victim aged between 3 and 5 years old.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office confirmed that all the children involved have been identified, and their families have been contacted by law enforcement.
According to Hillsborough County Jail officials, Lawton is currently being housed among male inmates.
Creative Minds Early Learning Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office did not provide immediate comments regarding the case.
