LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The former bassist of a popular country singer was arrested in Owensboro on child sexual abuse charges out of Clark County, Kentucky.
22-year-old Carsen Richards, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, was charged with two counts of second-degree sodomy and incest with a person under the age of 18.
Richards was arrested May 9 while performing with country singer Chase Matthew at the BBQ and Barrels event, according to the Owensboro Police Department.
Detectives with the Winchester Police Department had notified Owensboro officers May 5 that Richards was wanted on felony charges and was expected to perform at the festival that night.Â
Police took Richards into custody around 9:40 p.m. after he exited the stage, before he could reach his tour bus.
According to Richards’ arrest warrant, a Clark County woman reported to Winchester Police in November 2025 that Richards engaged in sexual acts with her minor son, who has autism, on at least two occasions over a two-year span.
The warrant states the alleged incidents happened at the victim’s home in December 2020, when the victim was 12 years old, and again in December 2022, when the victim was 14. The victim told officers Richards "engaged in sodomy behavior" with him.
The arrest warrant also states that in February of this year, the victim's mother confronted Richards outside of his Tennessee apartment.
During the confrontation, Richards allegedly said "there is nothing more I have regretted in my life" and that "I made an awful mistake."
Richards was transported to the Daviess County Detention Center after his arrest, where he remains in custody. He is currently being held on a $75,000 bond.
In a social media post, Matthew said Richards' arrest was "one of the most shocking and heartbreaking things" he had ever experienced.
"When I first heard the allegations, I was sick to my stomach," Matthew said in his statement. "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."
Matthew also confirmed Richards is "no longer associated with me or my team in any capacity."
"I am truly disturbed and and disgusted by the details of these allegations," Matthew said. "My heart breaks for anyone affected."
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