North Carolina bar continues selling Sycamore beer, but condemns child rape allegations against co-owner
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WBTV) – A bar in North Carolina said it will continue selling Sycamore beer after allegations that the brewery’s co-owner raped a child in Stanly County last week.
Goodfellows, a bar in Chapel Hill, said in a social media post Saturday, Dec. 13, that it plans to keep the beer on tap to support the brewery’s workers, while condemning the allegations against Sycamore’s ownership.
“Instead of dumping the beer and the brewery and penalizing the innocent, hard-working people who rely on the brewery for their livelihoods, we’re going to continue to work with Sycamore going forward,” the bar wrote.
Many bars and grocery stores across North Carolina have pulled Sycamore beer from their shelves following the allegations. Goodfellows, however, said it will donate a portion of future Sycamore beer sales to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center.
“We feel this is the fairest way forward,” the bar wrote.
Sycamore co-owner arrested, accused of raping child
Court records showed that 44-year-old Justin Brigham, the co-owner of Sycamore Brewing, was issued a $10 million bond and charged with statutory rape of a child, first-degree burglary, and indecent liberties with a child.
Justin Brigham(Courtesy: Stanly County Jail)
According to arrest warrants, Brigham was accused of breaking into a home along Furr Road in Stanfield on Wednesday, Dec. 10, before raping a 13-year-old girl inside the residence.
Brigham’s wife issues a statement
Brigham’s wife, Sarah, is the other owner of the brewery.
Just hours after Brigham’s charges were made public, she posted a statement on Sycamore Brewing’s Instagram page. That can be read, in full, below.
“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.
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.”
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