LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — A Loudoun County jury on Monday found Roger Bentley, a former propane technician, guilty on all four charges, including involuntary manslaughter, in connection with the February 2024 house explosion in Sterling that killed Firefighter Trevor Brown.
The trial focused on whether Bentley’s negligence played a role in the fatal blast.
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Prosecutors said Bentley overlooked obvious signs of a gas leak and failed to take action, ultimately causing the explosion that killed Trevor Brown and injured several others, WUSA 9 reported.
“This trial was about accountability for us,” Loudoun Fire & Rescue Chief James Williams said. “It’s an important trial. It’s an important chapter in our overall recovery, but nothing brings Trevor back. So, it’s one chapter in figuring out what’s next.”
On February 16, 2024, Bentley was called to a home on Silver Ridge Drive after a Southern States Cooperative delivery driver reported a strong odor while filling a 500-gallon underground propane tank during an inspection. Prosecutors said Bentley told homeowner Kelley Woods the smell wasn’t dangerous and advised against calling firefighters or warning neighbors. Woods testified that she trusted his assessment.
The case has sparked debate over propane safety rules and utility company responsibility, with one witness noting a new policy requiring reports when homeowners refuse to replace faulty tanks.
Bentley is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6 and faces up to 10 years in prison.
