A former lawmaker from New Hampshire, Stacey Marie Lawton, has been sentenced to over 30 years in federal prison after admitting to receiving nude photographs of children from a daycare facility in Massachusetts.
The 41-year-old resident of Nashua pleaded guilty to charges related to child sexual exploitation and received a sentence of more than 33 years. Reports indicate that Lawton received explicit images from Lindsey Groves, 40, a former partner, who had been sentenced to 22 years earlier this month.
Groves, who previously admitted to multiple counts related to child sexual exploitation and distribution of child pornography, worked at Creative Minds Day Care in Chingsboro, Massachusetts. Between May 2022 and June 2023, she allegedly took various photos of young children during standard diaper changes and moments before nap time.
After Groves took the images, she shared them with Lawton via text, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A forensic review of their cellphones revealed over 10,000 text messages exchanged between them over a brief period in 2023. Court documents suggested these messages contained discussions about and even forwarding of explicit images, including that of a child aged between 3 and 5 years.
Authorities have stated that all the children involved in this case have been identified, and their families have been informed by law enforcement.
Lawton is currently being housed in a group of men at Hillsborough County Jail, as confirmed by jail officials. There has been no immediate response from Creative Minds Early Learning Center or the U.S. Attorney’s Office regarding the case.
