A Virginia propane technician was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter this July after a propane tank for a pool heater exploded, killing a volunteer fireman, injuring 13 others, and leveling the two-story home where the tank was located.

Roger Bentley, a former service manager of Southern States Cooperative, was charged with manslaughter and three hazmat-related misdemeanors after the pool heater’s propane tank exploded, killing 45-yearold Trevor Brown, a fourth-generation volunteer fireman and father of three.

The jury deliberated for three days after a 7-day trial before returning guilty verdicts on all counts for criminal negligence.

Prosecutors said that Bentley ignored clear warning signs of a gas leak and failed to act, leading to the explosion that took Brown’s life and injured several others.

“It could have and should have been avoided,” Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Eden Holmes told jurors during closing arguments. “He had chosen stupidly, criminallyandnegligentlytodonothing.” Defense attorneys said that Roger Bentley did not know that there was a leak.

The propane explosion occurred in Sterling, Virginia, about 16 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.

On February 14, 2024, homeowner Kelley Woods requested a refill of her propane tank, which evidence showed had been previously determined to have a leak.

On Friday, February 16, 2024, a Southern States Cooperative delivery driver arrived to fill the tank and reported a strong odor of gas while adding about 125 gallons of propane to the 500-gallon tank. Bentley, a service manager, was sent that day to investigate.

According to prosecutors, Bentley detected the odor but downplayed the risk, telling the homeowner it “wasn’t a big deal,” and advised against calling firefighters, whom he predicted would “make a big deal out of nothing.” He told Woods there was no need to alert neighbors.

Prosecutors said Bentley then told Woods that Southern States would return on Monday to dig up and replace the tank, which had been installed in 1991.

Defense attorneys said that Woods had known that the propane tank had problems since 2017, and failed to tell Bentley this before his scheduled visit. According to comments captured on a home surveillance video during his visit, although Bentley smelled the gas, he told Kelley to allow the gas to “seep out of the ground and be on their merry way.”

According to the prosecution and the homeowner's testimony, Woods asked Bentley multiple times if she should call the fire department. She says she was repeatedly told no and that the propane should be allowed to seep out — that it wasn't an emergency.

Kelly King, Bentley’s attorney, said that while Bentley did smell the gas, he expected to because of the recent propane delivery. She argued that Bentley performed standard tests that showed no signs of a gas leak at the time.

“You don’t base conclusions on odor because it’s subjective,” King said.

According to testimony at the trial, hours after Bentley left, the odor had spread and a neighbor called the fire department, which then called Bentley. Bentley told firefighters that the leak was minor, but firefighters’ gas measurements showed high levels of propane so they evacuated the area at about 8 p.m.

The explosion occurred minutes later, killing Brown instantly and injuring 13 other people at the scene, including 10 other firefighters. Brown had been standing in the front yard when he was hit by a piece of the house. Two firefighters were trapped in the basement of the house, while 10 other firefighters and additional neighbors were injured in the explosion. Captain Karam Mashaal suffered a traumatic brain injury in the blast.

According to prosecutor Eden Holmes, Bentley “walked away without warning anyone, doing anything and left a land mine.” She said that Bentley “knew the risk of just allowing propane to flow out into the yard. … If the defendant had not made these choices, this house would not have exploded.”

But Bentley’s attorney reiterated that he was not aware that there was a leak, that he didn’t smell anything particularly alarming, and found no evidence of a leak while examining the top of the tank. His gas detection device picked up only “a faint residual odor,” she said.

Bentley “didn’t walk away from a leak,” King said. “He didn’t know. The only one who knew was Kelley Woods. She was obligated to keep that tank safe,” because she learned the tank was damaged in 2017 and was told in 2021 that it would cost $5,200 to replace the tank.

Bentley also told Woods that the tank needed to be replaced, but Woods didn’t tell him that she had been told there was a leak.

“Somehow it becomes her word that ends up becoming the basis of this prosecution,” King said. Bentley had told Woods to call him anytime over the weekend, she argued, and furthermore, as a 38-year employee with a spotless record, Bentley had no reason to walk away from potential trouble.Prosecutors questioned this logic in their rebuttal.

“Why come back Monday and take the tank out if there isn’t a leak?” asked Prosecutor Brian Boyle. When Bentley left the house without taking further action, “that’s the callous disregard” necessary to qualify for involuntary manslaughter.

“As I have said before, this tragedy was not unforeseeable nor was it unavoidable,” said Demetry Pikrallidas, Counsel for Karam Mashaal and two additional plaintiffs.

“Southern States is a major corporation in the business of transporting and handling highly flammable substances. They had serviced this tank before. They were aware that the propane tank in question had been flagged for issues. Despite that, it was filled. And when it continued to leak, they left. These decisions set in motion a chain of events that led to catastrophic consequences, including the death of Trevor Brown and injuring numerous other firefighters and civilians. This was a preventable disaster — plain and simple. It was mishandled from the outset. Our position has always been, and remains, that this was the result of systemic failure by Southern States.”

An investigation of the scene revealed two dime-sized holes in the bottom of the propane tank, lawyers said, which could not be seen from the ground. Under the tank, a French drain had been installed, connecting the basement to the backyard, which investigators believe may have funneled propane into the house. Investigators could not determine what sparked the explosion due to the devastation of the home.

Loudoun Fire Chief James Williams said that eight of the ten firefighters have since returned to work, while two are still on leave.

Bentley will remain free pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for November 6, when he will face a judgement ranging from probation to up to 10 years in prison.

Bentley and Southern States are also facing a civil lawsuit brought by Firefighter Brown’s widow, several injured firefighters, Kelley Woods, and neighbors. Brown had three children, now ages 8, 10, and 12 “It’s vindication,” Pikrallidas said. “Justice is served, and they’re happy, and they want to thank the prosecution and the jurors.”

Loudoun Commonwealth’sAttorney Bob D. Anderson said that charging Bentley with a crime “wasn’t an easy decision to make.”

Ultimately, he and his prosecutors decided “there are repercussions for certain activity. And the jury found that activity required certain repercussions.”