Ohio Chick-fil-A Owner Accused of Driving to North Carolina to Have Sex with Juvenile He Met on Social Media

The owner of a Chick-fil-A in Ohio has been arrested after law enforcement officials claim he drove to North Carolina to have sex with a 15-year-old he met via social media.

On March 5, deputies from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office were called by a homeowner who initially reported a break-in in progress at their home, according to court documents obtained by WSOC.

The homeowner told responding deputies they found the suspect, 49-year-old Stacy Lee Austin, in the house with their teenager.

According to investigators, Austin came to North Carolina from Belmont, Ohio, and arranged to pick up the child at the home.

Austin allegedly had sex with the child while still at the house, and deputies found his underwear and some of the teen’s clothing in a trashcan in the bathroom, according to authorities.

Austin told police he was worried he would lose his job as a Chick-fil-A owner, law enforcement officials said.

He was charged with statutory sex offense with a child and was being held with no bond.

In a statement, Chick-fil-A noted Austin “is an independent franchise owner" and "will not be present in the restaurant" as the investigation continues.

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The company added, “We have zero tolerance for the type of serious conduct alleged.”