Sentencing for the former Southern States employee convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the 2024 home explosion that killed one firefighter and injured 13 other people has been delayed as the judge considers a newly filed motion to set aside the guilty verdict or schedule a new trial.
Roger Bentley was convicted in July following a week-and-a half-long jury trail that included testimony from 25 witnesses. A four-hour sentencing hearing was scheduled for Thursday afternoon.
But defense attorneys Kelly King and John Boneta on Nov. 5 filed an 86-page motion requesting that Circuit Court Judge James Plowman set aside the verdict and enter a judgment of acquittal, or alternatively, schedule a new trial…