New Hampshire daycare worker is set to be RELEASED from jail today despite being accused of taking explicit photos of children for transgender former Democrat lawmaker

A daycare worker is set to be released on bail today despite being accused of taking explicit photos of toddlers and sending them to her transgender girlfriend for her 'sexual gratification'. 

Lindsay Groves, 38, is charged over snapping nude images of children aged three and four in a bathroom at Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Massachusetts - before sending them to former Democrat lawmaker Stacie Marie Laughton, 39.

Laughton represented District 31 in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, as a representative-elect from 2020 to 2022, until she resigned in December of that year after being charged with stalking Groves.

The duo, who were romantic partners at the time, allegedly shared more than 2,500 messages between June 2022 and June 2023, including at least four sexually explicit images of children.

Laughton, of Nashua, New Hampshire - the first openly transgender person to have been elected to state legislature - and Groves, of Hudson in the same state, were indicted on three counts each of sexual exploitation of children.

Lindsay Groves, 38, charged over snapping nude images of children aged three and four in a bathroom at Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Massachusetts between June 2022 and June 2023, is set to be released on bail today 

The sick photos were allegedly sent to former Democrat lawmaker Stacie Marie Laughton, 39, of Nashua, New Hampshire, who was Groves' girlfriend at the time 

As part of her conditional bail, Groves is barred from going within the vicinity of her former workplace, Creative Minds Early Learning Center in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts - around 35 miles north of Boston

Groves is expected to be released today on the condition she lives with her parents while she awaits trial, and that no children under the age of 18 can visit the home. 

She is also barred from using a phone, accessing the internet, or going within the vicinity of her former workplace in Tyngsborough, around 35 miles north of Boston.

On July 13, Groves filed a motion for pretrial release, which was granted last Friday by Chief Magistrate Judge Donald L. Cabell. 

Cabell recognized that Groves 'would pose a risk of danger to another or to the community' if released - but decided to grant bail with conditions he said would 'reasonably assure the safety of the community'. 

'The weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong, and “the nature and circumstances of the offense charged” involve minor victims,' he wrote in the ruling. 

'These factors underscore the risk of danger to the community if the defendant is released.

'Critically, however, the court finds that conditions of release can be fashioned to address this risk and reasonably assure the safety of the community.'

Groves and Laughton, pictured together, were reportedly in a relationship. The former lawmaker was previously arrested for stalking her 

Laughton, a former New Hampshire House representative who is transgender, has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2002 

Cabell said Groves' parents would serve as 'third-party custodians' who would ensure she stuck to the conditions of her temporary freedom. 

'In addition, the defendant has lived with her parents for most of her life in their Hudson, New Hampshire home,' he added. 

'These strong family and community ties along with the defendant’s minimal criminal record, further bolster the court’s conclusion.' 

Groves appeared before a judge and parents of the victims for the first time in June, at Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston.

Chaos erupted in the courtroom as one furious mother began yelling at Groves as she was led away at the end of the hearing. 

'I want to f****** kill that b****,' said an unidentified tearful mother from the gallery, as reported by the Boston Herald.

'You need to rot in jail!'

The photographs were sent to Laughton for her 'sexual gratification', according to court documents. 

Before making headlines for all the wrong reasons, Laughton was believed to be the first transgender person elected to state legislature in 2012.  

Despite her criminal past, Laughton still ran for a second term in 2022 and was elected to represent Nashua, New Hampshire, and won - until she was forced to resign over her ex's stalking claims

Laughton has blamed her past criminal behavior on mental illness and untreated conditions.

But a laundry list of previous offenses ranging from identity theft and falsifying evidence left her unable to serve - due to state laws prohibiting convicted felons from holding office until the final discharge of their sentence. 

She was then forced to resign and begin a 10 years probation sentence stemming from a 2008 felony conviction for credit card fraud. 

Other infractions include one for domestic violence/criminal mischief in 2002 and as well as a sexual assault charge against a woman - when Laughton had still been identifying as a man - in 2003.

She was also arrested in 2015, records show, for making a bomb threat against the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.

In 2021, she was cuffed for misusing the state's 911 texting system.

Despite her criminal past, Laughton successfully for a second term in 2022, elected to represent Nashua's Hillsborough 3 district along with Democrats Cote and Fred Davis. Republican Joost Baumeister lost one of the seats by just 100 votes. 

She successfully ran again in 2020 and was re-elected in 2022, until resigning in December after being jailed on the charges related to Groves. 

Since her most recent arrest, Laughton has blamed her past criminal behavior on mental illness and untreated conditions. When she resigned her House seed in 2022, she posted a video to social media about her issues vowing to run for a third time.

'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, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. 

The charge of sexual exploitation of children can lead to a sentence of up to 30 years in prison

'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.'

Authorities investigation into both women, meanwhile, is still ongoing. They are urging any others with knowledge on the duo's alleged actions come forward and report them to the State of Massachusetts.