Former owner of North Carolina’s Edward Teach Brewing charged for throwing plate at LongHorn steakhouse employee’s head

Former North Carolina brewery owner, David Gary Sholar, found himself in hot water after allegedly assaulting a LongHorn Steakhouse employee in Wilmington. The incident occurred on July 23 when Sholar, accompanied by his dog, started feeding his furry companion off the table at the steakhouse.

The employee, noticing this violation of health codes, politely informed Sholar to cease the activity. Although the employee offered to pack some food for the dog, Sholar became irate and began hurling insults and obscenities at the employee. The situation escalated when the employee asked Sholar to leave, prompting him to grab a porcelain plate and forcefully throw it at the employee’s head, resulting in a fractured skull.

Following the altercation, the victim was hospitalized and treated for serious injuries, with lingering complications reported. Sholar was subsequently arrested on August 7 and released on a $1,000 bond. The incident sparked community outrage, leading to the clarification by Edward Teach Brewing, the brewery formerly owned by Sholar, that he was no longer associated with the business.

The brewery, now under new ownership by Sholar’s sister, Amy Ottaway, made a public statement addressing the change in ownership. In response to the assault allegations, local restaurants like “Smoke on the Water” and “Fork ‘N Cork” began selling Edward Teach Brewing beer for $2, with profits earmarked for the injured employee. Diane Smith, representing the family-owned restaurants, expressed support for the victim and condemned Sholar’s actions.

This altercation was not Sholar’s first brush with controversy or legal trouble. In 2024, he faced charges of assault and communicating threats following an incident involving a local musician at his brewery in 2023. Sholar later pled guilty to allowing disorderly conduct on licensed premises and failure to superintend, with other charges dismissed.

Sholar is scheduled to appear in court on September 16 for the LongHorn Steakhouse incident. The community remains divided over his actions, with many calling for accountability and justice for the victim.