A Loudoun County jury has found Roger Bentley guilty of several charges in connection with the February 2024 Sterling home explosion that killed volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown. Nearly a dozen other people sustained injuries in the blast.
The jury deliberated for three days before finding Bentley, a propane technician, guilty of involuntary manslaughter. He was also convicted of three misdemeanor fire code violations.
Prosecutors argued Bentley ignored warning signs of a gas leak and failed to act. “It could have and should have been avoided,” Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eden Holmes told jurors during closing arguments. “He had chosen stupidly, criminally, and negligently to do nothing.”
Bentley was called to the home on 347 Silver Ridge Dr. after a Southern States Cooperative delivery driver reported a strong gas odor while filling the underground propane tank. Prosecutors said Bentley told the homeowner, Kelley Woods, that the smell was not considered dangerous. He did not instruct Woods to alert firefighters or her neighbors.
The defense argued that the incident was a tragic accident and called Bentley the “fall guy.” Bentley’s attorneys placed part of the blame on Woods. They said Woods knew the propane tank had leaking issues since 2017 but that she never conveyed this information to Bentley.
Bentley is scheduled for sentencing on November 6, and the penalties could include up to 10 years in prison.
Feature image courtesy Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue Department
