Opening statements due in manslaughter trial over 2024 deadly Sterling house explosion

Opening statements are expected Tuesday in the jury trial of a former propane employee charged in the February home explosion in Sterling Virginia that killed a volunteer firefighter and injured others Related stories Assessment finds flaws in firefighters response to gas leak that resulted in deadly Sterling home explosion Former propane worker charged in Sterling home explosion that killed firefighter Firefighter injured in Sterling house explosion welcomed home after being issued from burn unit Roger Bentley who was an employee for Southern States at the time of the explosion was indicted for involuntary manslaughter a felony and three misdemeanor violations of the fire prevention code in the blast that killed firefighter Trevor Brown a member of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company Bentley has been disclosed on bond before trial On Feb Loudoun County Fire and Rescue responded to a call about a gas leak in a Sterling home at p m According to prosecutors firefighters smelled propane in the air and evacuated residents Loudoun County Commonwealth s Attorney prosecutors commented earlier that day Bentley suggested a homeowner let a leaking propane tank continue to release the hazardous material before the explosion in the Sugarland Run neighborhood of Sterling When Bentley arrived on Silver Ridge Drive to inspect a leaking -pound underground propane tank he notified the homeowner to allow the hazardous material to seep out of the ground and be on their merry way according to an affidavit from a Loudoun County fire marshal investigator The affidavit by Ryan Boehret mentioned the homeowner demanded Southern States Cooperative to repair the underground propane tank that fueled a backyard pool heater since she planned to put the house on the territory the following month According to investigators another employee had filled the tank earlier in the day and both he and the homeowner noticed a strong gas odor The employee had contacted three supervisors and reported propane was escaping from one of the welds due to the age of the tank and it would have to be dug up on another day to pump off the remaining propane in the tank In court documents obtained by WTOP News partner News Bentley and the other employee s conversations with the homeowner were recorded on a doorbell camera If convicted Bentley could face up to years in prison on the involuntary manslaughter charge In May Brown s widow firefighters injured in the blast and nearby property owners filed a multimillion dollar negligence lawsuit against Southern States Bentley and another employee The suit is filed in Richmond Circuit Court where the company s corporate headquarters is based Source