Brittainey McGhee

A Lander woman is facing a felony charge in connection with allegations that she groped a teen at a Cody store.

Charging documents allege 36-year-old Brittainey M. McGhee inappropriately touched the 15-year-old’s chest while the girl was shopping at the Cody Walmart.

McGhee has been charged with third-degree sexual abuse of minor, alleging she “engaged in sexual contact” with a child at least four years her junior. McGhee’s case was recently forwarded to Park County’s District Court, where she will next enter a plea.

The incident occurred sometime before 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 11.

An affidavit from Cody Police Officer Philip Woods indicates the teen, who was visiting Cody on a school trip, was in a checkout line when she was approached by McGhee.

According to accounts provided by Walmart personnel and the teen, McGhee told the girl she was beautiful, asked if the underwear the teen was purchasing “would get her laid,” and then touched her breast.

The girl “was OK now, but had cried on the bus ride home,” her mother told Woods later that night.

McGhee was accompanied by a man, and using surveillance footage from the store, police say they were able to locate the couple’s vehicle at the Hampton Inn. Officers contacted the couple in their hotel room around 11:30 p.m.

McGhee was reportedly uncooperative, but her clothing and tattoos appeared to match those seen on the surveillance footage, Woods wrote.

Meanwhile, the man “told us that as he and his girlfriend [McGhee] were leaving Walmart … she told him she had hugged an underage girl in Walmart and that it was weird,” the officer wrote.

McGhee was arrested and remained in jail until Nov. 14, when she posted a $10,000 surety bond. While awaiting further proceedings, she must obey the law, stay in Park, Hot Springs and Fremont counties and have no contact with the alleged victim, among other conditions. 

A conviction for third-degree sexual abuse of a minor can carry up to 15 years of prison time.