The Charlotte brewery owner charged in the rape of a 13-year-old Stanly County girl met his victim online and knew she was underage, Stanly County Sheriff Jeff Crisco said Friday.
Crisco said more charges are possible in the case against Sycamore Brewing co-owner Justin Tawse Brigham, 44.
Brigham was charged Thursday with three felonies, including statutory rape of a child under 15, first-degree burglary, and indecent liberties with a child.
He was in the Stanly County jail on $10 million bond.
Brigham met his victim online for the first time two weeks ago, Crisco said at a news conference.
Stanly County Sheriff Jeff Crisco addresses reporters on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025, regarding the arrest of a Charlotte brewery owner on a rape charge involving a 13-year-old girl. Screenshot of news conference
“It’s our understanding that it’s a social media platform that’s common,” the sheriff said without naming the platform.
Brigham, who is listed as the brewery’s co-owner in state business records, was arrested by the Stanly County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday, according to an arrest warrant.
The warrant said Brigham was accused of breaking into a Stanfield house and raping the girl while others were home. Stanfield is 27 miles east of Charlotte.
“This should speak volumes,” the sheriff said about Brigham being accused of first meeting the victim online. “This should be a huge eye-opening experience. Parents need to pay attention to their kids.”
“You never expect it to happen to rural Stanly County,” Crisco said. “You don’t expect it. I hate to say it’s more common in bigger cities but it is, just because of volumes of people.”
In setting Brigham’s bond, Judge Tou Thai Vang ordered Brigham to surrender his passport, stay in the state, avoid contacting the victim and remain off all social media platforms, court records showed.
Judge: High bond intended ‘to protect the community’
The judge said Brigham “does not have a significant criminal history, traffic offenses and a shoplifting charge that the D.A. dismissed without leave,” according to court documents.
“However, the court finds that the facts alleged are so egregious, that the defendant went to the victim’s home in the middle of the night, and the age of the victim, the court is setting this bond to protect the community.”
Brigham’s next appearance in Stanly County Criminal District Court is scheduled for 9 a.m., Dec. 29, court records show.
Sarah Taylor, Brigham’s wife and the other owner of Sycamore Brewing, said in a statement Thursday that Brigham divested all interest in the company and will not have future involvement. Taylor said she assumed full leadership of the company.
“I am devastated by the charges against Justin and the pain this has inflicted on our family and others,” Taylor’s statement on social media said. “Our team remains my highest priority as a Mom and business owner.”
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Joe Marusak
The Charlotte Observer
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news.
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