This story was originally published by the WND News Center.

Stacie Laughton, a man who was elected to the New Hampshire legislature as a woman multiple times and resigned multiple times, now is facing a potentially lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to the sexual exploitation of children.

Laughton, 41, a Democrat, had been arrested and charged in 2023 in a case where authorities alleged his "former intimate partner," a daycare worker named Lindsay Groves, "admitted" taking sexually explicit photographs of children at the center where she worked and sending them to Laughton.

The report said the sentence for Laughton could be up to 30 years.

The Gateway Pundit said Laughton was charged with sexual exploitation of children, aiding and abetting.

The Department of Justice announced, "According to the charging documents, a preliminary forensic review of Groves' cellphone allegedly revealed over 10,000 text messages between Laughton and Groves that included discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs that Groves had taken of children while employed at Creative Minds daycare – including at least four sexually explicit images of children who appear to be approximately three to five years old, as well as explicit descriptions of sex with each other and others, including children."

Groves also is facing various charges.

The DOJ's charges continued, "The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case."

Laughton's guilty plea came during a court appearance in Boston.

Social media responses included:

"Shocking."

"Sick."

"Ick."

"I was reliably told this doesn't happen."

And, 'Psychos."