NEED TO KNOW
- Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, statutory rape of a child by an adult, and indecent liberties with a child on Wednesday, Dec. 10
- Brigham was co-owner of Sycamore Brewing, a popular Charlotte, N.C. brewery, alongside his wife Sarah Taylor
- Taylor announced on Thursday, Dec. 11, that Brigham would “divest” all involvement in the company
The owner of a popular brewery allegedly broke into the home of a 13-year-old girl and sexually assaulted her, local police said.
Justin Tawse Brigham was arrested on the evening of Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement shared on social media. Brigham has been charged with first-degree burglary, statutory rape of a child by an adult, and indecent liberties with a child.
Brigham, 44, made his first appearance in District Court in Stanly County on Thursday, Dec. 11, where his secure bond was set at $10 million, per the SCSO. Brigham is currently being held at the Stanly County Detention Center, according to jail records reviewed by PEOPLE.
Police were called to a residential home after the 13-year-old’s parents found “an unknown adult male” in her room. Brigham was discovered completely undressed in a vehicle near the alleged victim’s home following the assault, police said. PEOPLE has reached out to the SCSO for further information regarding the investigation.
Brigham was the co-owner of Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte, N.C., a popular spot in the city, per WSOC-TV. The brewery is co-owned by Brigham’s wife, Sarah Taylor.
“To our employees, customers, and partners, I am devastated by the charges against Justin and the pain this has inflicted on our family and others,” Taylor wrote on Sycamore Brewing’s Instagram page on Thursday.
“Effective immediately, I am assuming full leadership of the company. Justin is divesting all of his interest and will have no further involvement. Our team remains my highest priority as a Mom and a business owner,” Taylor concluded her statement.
PEOPLE has reached out to Sycamore Brewing for comment.
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In the day since the alleged crime, Wilmington, N.C. beer garden Freya’s Haus shared in an announcement on Facebook that it would be pulling Sycamore’s products off of their shelves.
“Effective immediately, we’re pulling all Sycamore Brewing products,” the statement began. Every dollar from remaining sales will be donated to our local rape crisis center, supporting survivors in our community. We believe accountability and care for people matter more than silence.”
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
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