Country singer Chase Matthew’s bassist has been charged with child sex crimes after being arrested at a Kentucky festival.
Carsen Richards, 22, was arrested Saturday and is accused of sexually abusing an autistic boy on two occasions in 2020 and 2022 when they were ages 12 and 14, LEX18 reported.
Footage shared on TikTok showed Richards being surrounded by cops after he had performed at the BBQ & Barrels event in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Cops waited until the Tennessee-born guitarist had left the stage before arresting him amid fears he could be armed.
Richards has since been charged with sodomy and incest involving a person under 18 by a person three or more years or older, and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
The boy’s mom reported the alleged abuse to Winchester cops in November last year and the child confirmed the claims during a police interview the following month.
Richards was confronted by the woman outside his Hendersonville apartment, on Feb. 12, according to court docs seen by the Owensboro Times.
“There is nothing more I have regretted in my life,” he reportedly told her before saying “I made an awful mistake.”
His alleged victim has Level 1 autism — the lowest support level, according to Vanderbilt University.
Matthew, known for his breakout hit “Love You Again,” has since fired Richards.
“The situation has honestly been one of the most shocking and heartbreaking things I have ever experienced,” the 28-year-old singer-songwriter wrote on Instagram.
“When I first heard the allegations, I was sick to my stomach. I would never associate myself with a person I think could even be remotely capable of something like this, much less hire them to be on my team.
“The reality is, you don’t always know what someone may be doing outside of your workplace, and nothing would have made me believe this was a possibility.”
Matthew said, “I do not support or tolerate behavior of this kind whatsoever.
“I am truly disturbed and disgusted by the details of these allegations. My heart breaks for anyone affected.”
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