Lindsay Groves, 40, of Hudson, New Hampshire, and Stacie Marie Laughton, 41, of Nashua, New Hampshire, have entered guilty pleas in federal court for their roles in a child pornography and exploitation case.
Groves was previously employed at the Creative Minds daycare in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. Laughton is a former New Hampshire State Representative. The pair were previously in an intimate relationship.
According to court records, the activity occurred between May 2022 and June 2023. While working at the daycare, Groves took nude photographs of prepubescent children in a private bathroom. Federal authorities stated that she utilized routine diaper and pull-up changes right before the children’s scheduled naptime to take the pictures. Groves then sent these photographs to Laughton via text messages.
A forensic review of cellphones belonging to both suspects uncovered more than 10,000 text messages sent between them during a single one-month period in 2023. These messages contained explicit discussions and transfers of the photos Groves took at the facility.
Investigators identified at least four sexually explicit images of children who appeared to be between three and five years old. Law enforcement officials confirmed that all minor victims have been identified and their families have been contacted.
The legal proceedings began with arrests in June and July of 2023, followed by a federal grand jury indictment later that July. Groves pleaded guilty on October 14, 2025, to three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography. Laughton pleaded guilty on November 3, 2025, to three counts of sexual exploitation of children.
U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled Groves’ sentencing for February 4, 2026. Laughton’s sentencing was scheduled for February 12, 2026.
The charge of sexual exploitation carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to a maximum of 30 years in prison, five years to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The distribution charge carries a penalty of 5 to 20 years in prison, five years to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Final sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on federal sentencing guidelines and statutes.
The guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations in New England, and Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke.
The investigation received assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, and the Hudson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica L. Soto and Anne Paruti of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.
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