Day care provider accused of taking nude photos of children during bathroom breaks

BOSTON (TCD) -- A 38-year-old day care provider from New Hampshire faces federal charges after allegedly taking nude photographs of children during bathroom breaks at her place of work and sending them to an intimate partner via text.

On Thursday, June 22, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced that federal prosecutors charged Lindsay Groves with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography.

According to a criminal complaint, on Tuesday, June 20, officers from the Nashua Police Department received a report that Groves, a day care provider at Creative Minds Early Education, sent a former romantic partner photographs depicting children with their genitals exposed.

Nashua Police Department officers initially arrested Groves on charges of felony child sex abuse images.

Upon further investigation, officials learned that between May 2022 and June 2023, Groves allegedly took inappropriate photos of prepubescent children at the day care center during their bathroom breaks. The criminal complaint said Groves used the private bathroom with a full-sized door instead of the center's public bathroom with half-sized doors.

She would then reportedly send the photographs to her romantic partner.

According to the Attorney's Office, Groves allegedly sent over 2,500 text messages to the individual, which included "discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs." The Attorney's Office said there were at least four inappropriate photographs that depicted children around 3 to 5 years old.

During an interview, the Attorney's Office said Groves told officials she instructed the children to "pull their shirts/tops towards their heads," and their "pants were pulled towards their ankles" as she took photos of their genitalia.

If convicted, Groves faces at least 15 years in prison and up to 30 for sexual exploitation of children and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to 20 for distribution of child pornography.

Groves remains held without bail and will appear in federal court at a later date.

Nashua Police also arrested 39-year-old Stacie Laughton on charges of distribution of child sexual abuse images in connection with the case. WMUR-TV reports that Laughton is a former New Hampshire state representative.

In a statement obtained by WCVB-TV, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care announced that Creative Minds Early Education closed its doors voluntarily and is fully cooperating with the investigation.

MORE:

• Tyngsborough Daycare Worker Arrested for Child Exploitation - U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts 
• Criminal Complaint - U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts 
• Press Release, Lindsay Groves - Nashua Police Department
• Press Release, Stacie Laughton - Nashua Police Department
• Mass. day care employee facing federal child pornography, exploitation charges - WCVB
• Former New Hampshire lawmaker waives arraignment on charges of distributing child sex abuse images - WMUR