Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, is being held on a $10 million bond in Stanly County.
STANFIELD, NC — A former co-owner of Sycamore Brewing was arrested this week on charges that he broke into a Stanly County home and raped a 13-year-old girl late Wednesday night, authorities said. Deputies took Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, into custody Thursday morning and booked him on counts including statutory rape of a child by an adult, first-degree burglary and indecent liberties with a child.
Brigham’s arrest jolted Charlotte’s craft beer scene and prompted bars and major retailers across the Carolinas to remove Sycamore products while the case moves through court. The Stanly County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is active and more charges could follow. Sycamore’s remaining co-founder, Sarah Taylor, said she is taking full control of the company and that Brigham is out of the business. The case enters its early court stages as deputies work to map out a timeline, secure forensic evidence and interview witnesses tied to the late-night break-in reported Dec. 10 in the rural town of Stanfield, about 30 miles east of Charlotte.
Deputies said a 911 call came from the teen’s parents shortly before midnight Wednesday after they found an unknown man in their daughter’s bedroom inside a home along Furr Road. Responding units arrived within minutes, searched the area and later found a man matching the description sitting naked in a vehicle near the residence, according to the sheriff’s office. He was identified as Brigham and detained at the scene. At a briefing Friday, Sheriff Jeff Crisco said investigators believe Brigham and the teen first connected on social media roughly two weeks earlier. “This was a fast-moving investigation from the first 911 call,” Crisco said, adding that deputies secured the home, collected physical evidence and transported the child for a medical examination the same night.
Court records show Brigham appeared before a magistrate Thursday and received a $10 million secured bond. He was booked into the Stanly County Detention Center and remained in custody Friday. The charges listed include statutory rape of a child by an adult, first-degree burglary and taking indecent liberties with a child. Investigators said they are also reviewing electronic communications and location data to establish contact history and travel patterns. Crisco said there is no indication that Taylor or Sycamore Brewing had any role in the alleged crimes. The sheriff declined to discuss specific forensic findings, citing the age of the victim and the ongoing case. Authorities did not identify the teen, consistent with state law protecting minors in sex offense cases.
Sycamore Brewing, founded in 2013 and now one of Charlotte’s largest breweries, has drawn swift fallout as details emerged. On Friday, several grocery chains and bottle shops across North and South Carolina said they were pulling Sycamore beers from shelves and taps. Bars in Charlotte’s South End and beyond announced they would stop serving the brand for now. Taylor, who co-founded the brewery with Brigham and now uses her maiden name publicly, said in a statement that she is “devastated,” has assumed full leadership and that Brigham is divesting from the company. Retail groups said decisions were made in response to the gravity of the allegations and to support customers and staff processing the news.
Stanly County records indicate the reported break-in happened late Wednesday on a quiet stretch of Furr Road in Stanfield, a town of roughly 1,600 people lined with single-family homes and farmland. Deputies said the teen’s parents discovered the intruder in their daughter’s room and immediately called 911. Patrol units and detectives canvassed properties, looked for exterior cameras and checked nearby roadways. A short time later, investigators said, they found Brigham in a vehicle near the house. Detectives executed search warrants on the home and the vehicle and collected clothing and other items for testing. The sheriff’s office said the child was treated and released; no further medical information was provided.
In Charlotte, where Sycamore’s taproom sits near the city’s rail trail, the arrest reverberated through a brewery community that has expanded over the past decade. Sycamore grew from a neighborhood taproom into a regional brand with distribution in grocery chains and stadiums. Industry watchers said the sudden pause by retailers could affect winter sales and tap rotations heading into the holidays, though the company remains open under Taylor’s leadership. Employees were told Friday morning that operations would continue and that company communications would route through Taylor and outside counsel while the case proceeds.
Legal proceedings began with the bond hearing Thursday in Albemarle, the Stanly County seat. Prosecutors argued for high bond based on the age of the victim and the burglary count, which under North Carolina law involves entering an occupied dwelling at night with the intent to commit a felony. Defense counsel did not immediately file motions beyond the initial appearance. The next court date was not posted in online dockets Friday afternoon. If indicted, the statutory rape of a child by an adult charge carries a potential prison term measured in decades depending on aggravating factors. Investigators said they are consulting with the district attorney’s office on additional counts related to electronic communications and any evidence of grooming.
Outside the courthouse and at the sheriff’s office, residents expressed shock and anger. “It’s every parent’s nightmare,” said Stanfield resident Alicia Morgan, who lives a few miles from Furr Road. In Charlotte’s South End, longtime customer Daniel Price said he supports staff still working at the brewery but understands why bars pulled kegs. “People just need space to process what they’re hearing,” Price said. At Friday’s briefing, Crisco thanked the teen’s family for acting quickly. “The parents did exactly what we ask in an emergency: call 911, secure the child and give us every detail you can,” he said. He emphasized that his agency is coordinating with child advocates during interviews and is limiting public disclosures to protect the minor.
As of Friday evening, Brigham remained jailed in Stanly County. Detectives continued to gather digital records and to interview additional witnesses. Retailers said product reviews would remain in place into next week. The sheriff’s office said it would release updates when additional charges are filed or when the case is scheduled for its next hearing.
Author note: Last updated December 12, 2025.