Jury returns guilty verdicts in Sterling home explosion

After seven days of evidence and argument, a Loudoun County jury found Roger Lee Bentley guilty of one count of felony Involuntary Manslaughter, one count of misdemeanor Unlawful Release of Hazardous Materials, one count of misdemeanor Failure to Maintain Required Records of Hazardous Materials Release, and one count of misdemeanor Failure to Control or Mitigate Unauthorized Discharge of Hazardous Materials.

The jury deliberated for three days before returning guilty verdicts on all counts for his criminal negligence, which resulted in the injury of over a dozen people, and the death of one volunteer firefighter.

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Lowery, Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Brian Boyle and Eden Holmes presented hundreds of pieces of evidence to the jury and called over twenty witnesses over the course of trial. The Honorable James E. Plowman presided.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 6, 2025, at 1 p.m..