A Jackson, Wyoming, police sergeant caught a Texas man taking photographs of a 7- or 8-year-old girl’s private areas as the man stood behind her in line for carnival rides last month, court documents say.
William Ewan Brennan IV, 41, now faces one count of felony voyeurism, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.
His case rose to the felony-level Teton County District Court on Wednesday, about a week after Brennan posted a $25,000 surety bond, his court file says.
The judge ordered Brennan to stay away from children while out on bond.
This Witness Was On It
Jackson Police Department Cpl. Paul Jacobson was monitoring the carnival on foot the night of July 26. It was about 10:34 when a man approached Jacobson to say he’d witnessed another man taking photos of a girl who looked about 7 or 8, says an evidentiary affidavit filed in the case.
The witness told Jacobson he’d been waiting in line for a ride at the carnival when he noticed the other man — later identified as Brennan — standing behind the young girl, apparently taking photos of her intimate lower-body area with his phone.
She wore loose white shorts, about mid-thigh length, and a black tank top, the document says.
Another witness, a female, said she noticed a photography flash from Brennan’s phone.
The male witness got onto the same carnival ride as Brennan and the girl. Brennan chose a seat on the ride right next to the little girl, the document relates from the witness’s interview.
That was when the witness shot his own photograph of Brennan, which he later showed to Jacobson so Jacobson could find the man, the affidavit says.
Jacobson noted in the affidavit that the witness’s photo of Brennan was a “live shot,” or brief video snippet ending with a still photograph. The video briefly showed the girl in its frame, says the document.
The Hunt
Jacobson forwarded his findings to Sgt. Kyle Foster and another officer, who started searching the fairgrounds for Brennan.
They found him quickly, standing in line for a different ride behind the same little girl, the affidavit says.
Foster stood behind Brennan and watched him. Brennan held his phone near his chest with the camera activated, pointed at the girl’s bottom area, says the document.
Foster reportedly approached Brennan and asked what he was trying to photograph.
The affidavit says Brennan stashed his cellphone in his pants pocket. He said Jacobson’s accusations about photos he’d reportedly taken earlier were ridiculous, and he said he didn’t want to talk to the sergeant, the document says.
The affidavit says Brennan was then handcuffed, taken to where the police cars were parked and read his Miranda rights. It doesn’t say which agent handcuffed him or read him his Miranda rights.
Brennan asked if he was going to jail.
Jacobson said that was possible, since he was likely to be charged with felony voyeurism, the document says.
“It’s a felony?” Brennan asked in shock, according to the affidavit.
The document says Brennan refused to let officers search his phone.
Cowboy State Daily was unable to reach Brennan by publication time.
No Telling What Brought Him Here
Jackson Police Department Sgt. Jeremy Traphagan said he’s not sure what brought the Texas man to Jackson, but that it’s normal for out-of-staters to be in the high-tourism town.
“So many people are in and out, especially in the summer. We get such a high influx of visitors,” said Traphagan. “Sometimes they get stuck here, sometimes they’re like … ‘it’s so beautiful I can make it work.’”
And other times, they realize the community is an expensive place to live and they change their minds, he added.
Traphagan said a search warrant is likely pending for the relevant contents of Brennan’s phone, and that the department seized that in anticipation of having a warrant issued.
The Teton County Attorney's Office declined to comment on whether there is a warrant application, or the status of it.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
