ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The owner of a St. Clairsville Chick-fil-A was arrested this week on a statutory sex offense charge, accused of performing sexual acts with a 15-year-old in Rowan County, North Carolina.

According to a story in the Salisbury (N.C.) Post, Stacy Lee Austin, 49, was placed in the Rowan County Detention Center under no bond due to the Pretrial Integrity Act.

The Post reported that Rowan County deputies responded to a home in Rowan County on Tuesday for a reported breaking and entering in progress.

When they arrived, the resident informed them that when he arrived home, he allegedly found an adult male, identified as Austin, inside with the resident’s 15-year-old child.

Investigators found that Austin allegedly drove from his Belmont, Ohio, home to North Carolina after communicating with the child on social media.

During those conversations, the Post reported, Austin allegedly tried to arrange to pick up the child and, while he was in the victim’s home, performed sexual acts with them.

Investigators allegedly found Austin’s underwear in a bathroom trash can in the home, along with some of the child’s clothing. When questioned by investigators, Austin allegedly admitted to the sexual acts and expressed concern that he would lose his job as a Chick-fil-A owner.

According to information found online, Austin grew up in North Carolina, was chosen as a Chick-fil-A owner/operator in 2019 and opened the St. Clairsville Chick-fil-A in 2020.