Rep. Stacie Laughton, the first openly transgender individual to be elected to a state legislature in the United States, has been arrested on charges related to child sexual abuse, Your Content has learned.
Local authorities reported that Laughton was taken into custody on Thursday for allegedly distributing images of child sexual abuse.
The arrest is connected to the case of Lindsay Groves, a preschool worker from Massachusetts who stands accused of taking inappropriate photos of children while they were using the bathroom.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Groves used natural bathroom breaks, such as routine diaper changes before naptime, to capture multiple images of prepubescent children in a private bathroom.
These images were then sent to an unidentified individual via text message.
Laughton’s legal troubles extend beyond the recent arrest.
In 2015, Laughton was apprehended after taking responsibility for a bomb threat made to Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.
The incident occurred shortly after Laughton had been discharged from a Vermont hospital, where treatment for bipolar disorder was received.
Laughton cited untreated mental illness as a contributing factor to the incident.
Furthermore, Laughton faced incarceration last year on stalking charges.
The latest arrest adds to a series of legal controversies surrounding the former legislator.
When contacted for comment, Laughton did not immediately respond, according to CBS2.
Please note that this article may be updated if a response is received from Laughton.