Hudson woman accused of child pornography in Massachusetts daycare case to undergo competency review

Aug. 14 — A Hudson woman accused of taking explicit photos of young children at the Massachusetts daycare where she worked must undergo a mental health evaluation to determine whether she can stand trial, court documents show.

Lindsay Groves and her former romantic partner, former New Hampshire state Rep. Stacie Marie Laughton, 40, of Nashua — who identifies as a transgender woman — are accused of trafficking sexually explicit images of young boys and girls allegedly taken in the bathroom of the Creative Minds Daycare in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, where Groves worked.

Groves and Laughton were charged in August 2023 with three counts of sexual exploitation of children. Groves is also charged with one count of dissemination of child sexual abuse images.

The suspects had previously been charged in a criminal complaint with sexual exploitation of children and distributing images of child sexual abuse.

On August 9, U.S. District Judge Donald L. Cabel wrote in an order: “Based on the information provided in the defendant’s various motions regarding her capacity, the government’s responses, and the information provided by both parties at various status hearings, I find that there is substantial reason to believe that the defendant may currently be suffering from a mental disease or disorder that renders her mentally incompetent.”

Cabel’s order states that Groves be placed under the supervision of the attorney general in an appropriate facility so that a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist can conduct psychiatric and/or psychological evaluations.

Groves is taken to the facility by U.S. Marshals.

The exams are scheduled to take place within 30 days of Groves’ arrival, but that deadline can be extended by up to 15 days if there is “good reason.”

The order states that psychiatric or psychological reports must be prepared and filed with the court describing Groves’ history and current symptoms; a description of the psychiatric, psychological and medical tests performed and their results; the examiner’s findings; and the examiner’s opinions on the diagnosis, prognosis and whether the defendant suffers from “a mental disease or disorder which renders her mentally incompetent to the extent that she cannot understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against her or adequately assist her defence.”

According to charging documents, a preliminary forensic examination of Groves’ cellphone revealed more than 10,000 text messages between Laughton and Groves, which discussed and shared explicit photos Groves had taken of children while working at Creative Minds. Among them were at least four sexually explicit images of children who appeared to be between 3 and 5 years old. They also contained graphic descriptions of them having sex with each other and with others, including children.

According to charging documents, between May 2022 and June 2022, Groves allegedly took nude photos of children at the daycare and sent the photos to a person, identified as Laughton, with whom she had a previous intimate relationship.

According to the affidavit, Groves allegedly “used natural bathroom habits for the children,” such as “routinely changing diapers before naptime … to take multiple photographs of the prepubescent children in a private bathroom and then text message the photographs to (his former intimate partner).”

Department of Homeland Security Special Agent in Charge Rocco Rauseo wrote that a preliminary forensic examination of Groves’ cell phone “reportedly revealed more than 2,500 text messages between Groves and the individual.”

The messages allegedly involved discussion “about, and transmission of, explicit photographs Groves allegedly took of children while working at Creative Minds…,” Rauseo wrote.

The complaint describes four images of child sexual abuse, depicting male and female children who appear to be under the age of 5. The texts allegedly sent between Groves and Laughton include exchanges in which Laughton allegedly wrote about performing oral sex on a girl, with Groves allegedly writing, “She ain’t even 3 yet.”

In another conversation, Laughton allegedly texted Groves asking, “Do you think God would be okay with me becoming a pastor?” Groves allegedly responded, “I think God would be okay with it.”

The charge of child sexual exploitation carries a penalty of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes, which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.