A former New Hampshire state representative has pleaded guilty to federal child sexual exploitation charges involving children as young as three years old.

Stacie Marie Laughton, a Democrat and the first openly transgender lawmaker elected in the United States, entered the guilty plea in federal court to charges that include sexual exploitation of children.

Prosecutors stated that Laughton requested explicit photographs of young children from Lindsey Groves, who was employed at a daycare facility in Tingsboro, Massachusetts.

Court filings indicate that Laughton and Groves were in a personal relationship at the time and exchanged thousands of text messages concerning the images.

Groves pleaded guilty last month to related charges.

Laughton was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives three times but resigned twice amid separate legal difficulties prior to the current case.

Sentencing is scheduled for February.