Wilmington bar pulls products following arrest of NC brewery co-owner for rape

STANLY COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The now former co-owner of Sycamore Brewing is facing multiple felony charges after deputies say he was found inside a teenage girl’s bedroom late Wednesday night.

According to the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a 911 call shortly before midnight on Dec. 10. The caller reported that an unknown adult male had been found inside the bedroom of a 13-year-old girl by her parents.

When deputies arrived, investigators say they located a man who was completely undressed inside a nearby vehicle.

Following an investigation, Justin Tawse Brigham, 44, co-owner of Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte, was charged with first-degree burglary, statutory rape of a child by an adult, and indecent liberties with a child.

Brigham made his initial appearance in Stanly County District Court Thursday morning. A judge set his bond at $10 million secured. He is currently being held at the Stanly County Detention Center.

The case has prompted responses beyond Stanly County, including in southeastern North Carolina.

In Wilmington, Freya’s Haus announced it is immediately pulling all Sycamore Brewing products. The business says all remaining sales from those products will be donated to a local rape crisis center to support survivors in the community.

In a statement posted online, Freya’s Haus said “accountability and care for people matter more than silence.”

In a post on Instagram, Sycamore Brewing released a statement, saying Justin is divesting all of his interest and will have no further involvement in the company. According to WSOC, Sycamore Brewing is also owned by Justin’s wife, Sarah Taylor. She said in the Instagram statement that she’s taking full leadership of the company effective immediately.

The investigation remains ongoing.