First trans state lawmaker in US arrested on charges of distributing 'child sexual abuse images'

Former New Hampshire state Rep. Stacie Marie Laughton (D) was the nation's first-ever transgender person elected to a state legislature.

On Thursday, Laughton — a biological man — was arrested on child porn charges.

Nashua police responded "to a local facility for a juvenile matter" on Tuesday, police explained in a statement. Upon investigating, police learned that Laughton had allegedly distributed "sexually explicit images of children." After obtaining an arrest warrant, police took Laughton into custody.

Laughton was charged with four counts of distribution of child sexual abuse images. Police did not provide additional details. The crime is a serious felony punishable by 10–20 years in prison.

Laughton rose to New Hampshire political prominence in 2012 when he became the first openly transgender person to win an election in New Hampshire and the first openly transgender person in the country to win a seat in a state legislature. After winning election, it was revealed that four years prior, Laughton had been convicted of conspiracy to commit credit card fraud. Laughton resigned before ever taking office.

Laughton returned to politics in 2020, once again running for a seat in the New Hampshire state House — and won.

Last November, Laughton won re-election, but missed the swearing-in ceremony in December because he was in jail on accusations of stalking. State Democratic leaders then urged Laughton to resign, which finally happened just before Christmas.

"As of today, I'm no longer a state representative, which is very disappointing, but I'm going to come back to it," Laughton said after resigning. "I will be attending mental health court and getting some counseling and trying to get my life back on track. I'm not perfect. Even in the future I still won't be perfect but I will be a better version of myself and better able to handle situations that come my way. In two years, the next state election, I will run for state representative again."

Laughton has an extensive criminal record.

He was arrested twice last year on stalking charges. In 2015, Laughton was arrested for making a false bomb threat to a hospital, and in 2021, Laughton was arrested for allegedly sending false emergency messages to a 911 dispatch center.

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