Former Randolph County deputy charged with second-degree forcible rape

ASHEBORO — A former Randolph County Sheriff's Office deputy is facing a felony charge of second-degree forcible rape stemming from an alleged April incident, according to court documents.

Following an investigation by the Greensboro Police Department, a warrant was issued on Aug. 28 for Brandon Yair Zagada Zuniga, 30, of Seagrove. The warrant alleges he "did carnally know and abuse" a woman who was "physically helpless" at the time, on or about April 25, 2026.

He was arrested Sept. 16 and initially held at the Montgomery County Jail without bond after a Guilford County magistrate found the case involved a "violent offense," ruling that only a district court judge could set bond — a requirement stemming from a 2025 change in state law known as Iryna's Law. He made his first appearance in Guilford County District Court on Sept. 18 with his attorney,
where a secured bond of $30,000 was set along with conditions barring contact with the alleged victim.

Records provided by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office show Zagada Zuniga was employed there as a deputy sheriff from Nov. 1, 2023, to May 4, 2026 — a separation that came just nine days after the date of the alleged offense.

On a state Report of Separation form the agency is required to file with the N.C. Department of Justice Sheriffs' Standards Division, RCSO indicated the separation was the result of a criminal investigation or violation of Commission rules, and that the agency was aware of an ongoing or substantiated internal investigation into him within the prior 18 months.

Before joining RCSO, he worked for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office from August 2022 to October 2023, according to that agency.

Zagada Zuniga is expected back in court Nov. 19.