Ohio Chick-fil-A owner accused of sex offense with 15-year-old girl

SALISBURY, N.C. (WCMH) — Deputies in North Carolina have arrested an Ohio Chick-fil-A franchise owner and accused him of engaging in sex acts with a teenage girl.

Stacy Lee Austin, 49, faces a charge of statutory sex offense with a child, according to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said he spoke with the victim on social media and arranged to drive over 6 hours from his Belmont home to meet her at her house in North Carolina.

Deputies originally went to the home on March 5 when another resident found Austin inside with the teen and called to report a breaking and entering. They said they found Austin’s underwear in a trashcan in the home.

The suspect later admitted he engaged in sex acts with the teen to deputies, according to the sheriff’s office. He told them he was concerned about losing his job as the owner of an Ohio Chick-fil-A franchise.

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Business records from the Ohio Secretary of State showed Austin registered as the agent for CE Chicken, LLC, with an Akron mailing address. OSHA inspection records tie the LLC to a Chick-fil-A at 67950 Mall Ring Rd. in St. Clairsville.

Austin was being held in the Rowan County Detention Center without bond as of Tuesday. A Chick-fil-A spokesperson told Nexstar station WTRF that the company has “zero tolerance for the type of serious conduct alleged.”

“Stacy Austin currently is an independent franchise owner, but as the investigation and legal process continues, he will not be present in the restaurant,” the spokesperson said.

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