A jury found a former propane worker guilty on Monday of manslaughter in the 2024 death of a firefighter in a house explosion, the Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney’s Office said.

The jury found Roger Bentley to be criminally negligent, guilty on one count each of felony involuntary manslaughter and unlawful release of hazardous materials, failure to mitigate or control the unlawful discharge of hazardous materials and failure to maintain records of hazardous materials release, all misdemeanors.

A 500-gallon underground propane tank at a house in Sterling, Virginia, leaked on Feb. 16, 2024, after being filled with about 125 gallons of propane. Bentley went to the home on Feb. 16 after the co-worker who filled the tank noticed the leak, according to WTOP-FM.

Local firefighters responded to the reported leak and had evacuated the residents when the house exploded, the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System said in a report on the incident.

Debris struck and killed Sterling Volunteer Fire Company firefighter Trevor Brown, 45, who was standing on the front lawn of the house, according to a report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 

The explosion seriously injured 10 other first responders, including two firefighters rescued from the basement of the house, and caused minor injuries to two civilians, Loudoun County fire officials said.

Prosecutors said that Bentley told the homeowner that the propane she smelled was not an emergency, that she should not contact the local fire department and that he would handle it the next week, according to WTOP-FM.

Bentley’s attorneys argued that the homeowner never told him about the leak and that she was responsible because she knew about it.

During closing arguments last week, defense attorney Kelly King said Bentley “is the fall guy,” according to WTOP-FM.

Bentley is due back in court on Nov. 6 for sentencing.

Southern States Cooperative, Inc., Bentley’s former employer, told WJLA-TV that it “cooperated fully with federal and local investigations related to an explosion at a Loudoun County residence. Based on our own internal inquiry into the incident … we have made what we believe to be appropriate personnel changes in the region.”

The company also said that due to pending civil litigation related to the explosion, it would not comment on the details or involved personnel.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.