North Carolina Man Arrested in Alleged Child Assault Case
A prominent North Carolina brewery co-founder has been taken into custody and charged with multiple felonies after authorities say he broke into a home and sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl late Wednesday in Stanfield, Stanly County. The suspect, 44-year-old Justin Brigham, now faces serious charges including statutory rape and first-degree burglary and is being held on a $10 million bond as the investigation continues.
Allegations, Arrest and Charges
Local law enforcement officials report that Brigham is accused of unlawfully entering a house on Furr Road in the Stanly County area before the alleged sexual assault occurred. The teenager’s parents reportedly discovered an unfamiliar man in their daughter’s bedroom and made a 911 call, prompting deputies to respond. Upon arrival, investigators located Brigham, undressed, inside a nearby vehicle and took him into custody without further incident.
Court records show he has been charged with statutory rape of a minor, indecent liberties with a child and first-degree burglary — all felonies under North Carolina law — and a judge has set his secure bond at $10 million.
Impact on Brewery and Community Response
Brigham co-founded Sycamore Brewing, a well-known Charlotte craft brewery, with his wife Sarah Taylor in 2013. In the wake of the arrests and charges, Taylor issued a statement saying she is “devastated” by the situation and will assume full leadership of the business, with Brigham divesting all involvement in the company.
Several local establishments that carried Sycamore products have responded by removing the brewery’s beverages from their shelves, with some pledging to donate proceeds from unsold stock to organizations that support victims of sexual violence .Community leaders and child advocacy experts emphasize the need for awareness and safety education in light of the incident, though further investigative details have not yet been released by authorities.
