Bassist for Chase Matthew charged with child sex crimes following arrest at Kentucky festival
Carsen Richards, 22, bassist for country musician Chase Matthew, was arrested at the BBQ & Barrels festival in Owensboro, Kentucky, after performing on stage. Authorities waited until he exited the stage due to concerns he might be armed. He faces charges related to the alleged sexual abuse of a boy on two occasions in 202020 and 2022, when the victim was 12 and 14 years old. The victim’s mother reported the allegations to police in November of the prior year, and the victim confirmed the claims in a subsequent interview. Richards was confronted by the mother at his apartment on February 12, during which he reportedly expressed regret and admitted to making a mistake. He has been charged with sodomy involving a minor, and in one account, incest charges are also noted. The victim is reported to have Level 1 autism in one source. Chase Matthew has dismissed Richards and issued a public statement expressing shock and condemnation of the alleged behavior.
Both sources cover the same core event with substantial overlap in factual reporting. However, New York Post provides more detailed and specific information, including the victim’s autism diagnosis, full quotes from Richards, and a broader range of charges. news.com.au is a reproduction of a Page Six article and omits several key details present in New York Post, suggesting a more condensed or editorialized version of the original report.
- ✓ Carsen Richards, the 22-year-old bassist for country singer Chase Matthew, was arrested at the BBQ & Barrels festival in Owensboro, Kentucky.
- ✓ The arrest occurred after Richards performed on stage, with law enforcement waiting until he left the stage due to concerns he might be armed.
- ✓ Richards is charged with sexual offenses involving a minor, specifically sodomy involving a person under 18 by someone three or more years older.
- ✓ The alleged abuse occurred on two occasions in 2020 and 2022, when the victim was 12 and 14 years old.
- ✓ The victim's mother reported the allegations to Winchester police in November of the previous year.
- ✓ The victim confirmed the allegations during a police interview the following month.
- ✓ Richards was confronted by by the victim’s mother outside his Hendersonville apartment on February 12, according to court documents.
- ✓ During that confrontation, Richards reportedly said, 'There is nothing more I have regretted in my life,' and 'I made an awful mistake.'
- ✓ Chase Matthew has fired Richards from his band.
- ✓ Matthew issued a public statement on Instagram expressing shock, disgust, and heartbreak over the allegations.
Specific charges mentioned
Only mentions 'sodomy involving a person under 18 by a person three or more years or older,' omitting any reference to incest charges.
Explicitly states Richards was charged with both 'sodomy and incest involving a person under 18 by a person three or more years or older.'
Details about the victim’s condition
Does not mention the victim’s autism diagnosis or any related details.
Specifies that the alleged victim has Level 1 autism — described as the 'lowest support level' — and cites Vanderbilt University as a reference point.
Attribution and sourcing of footage
Also references TikTok footage but adds that Page Six reported it, and includes a note at the end indicating the article was originally published in Page Six and reproduced with permission.
States that TikTok footage showed Richards surrounded by police, citing LEX18 as the source of the report.
Use of direct quotes from Richards
Includes only the second quote — 'I made an awful mistake' — and omits the first.
Includes two direct quotes from Richards during the confrontation: 'There is nothing more I have regretted in my life' and 'I made an awful mistake.'
Spelling and stylistic choices
Uses British English spelling ('mum,' 'behaviour') and refers to Richards as a 'guitarist' despite his role as bassist.
Uses American English spelling ('cops,' 'mom,' 'guitarist').
New York Post
Framing: New York Post frames the event as a serious criminal case with emotional and moral weight, emphasizing the vulnerability of the victim (via autism detail), the gravity of the charges (including incest), and the public nature of the arrest (TikTok footage).
Tone: Sensationalized yet factually detailed, with a focus on shock value and moral condemnation.
Appeal To Emotion: New York Post includes a detailed description of the victim’s autism diagnosis, specifying 'Level 1 autism — the lowest support level,' and cites Vanderbilt University for context. This adds clinical specificity and may evoke greater emotional response.
"His alleged victim has Level 1 autism — the lowest support level, according to Vanderbilt University."
Comprehensive Sourcing: New York Post explicitly states Richards was charged with both sodomy and incest, providing a fuller legal picture than news.com.au.
"charged with sodomy and incest involving a person under 18 by a person three or more years or older"
Narrative Framing: New York Post includes two direct quotes from Richards during the confrontation with the victim’s mother, enhancing narrative depth and perceived accountability.
"“There is nothing more I have regretted in my life,” he reportedly told her before saying “I made an awful mistake.”"
Framing By Emphasis: The inclusion of TikTok footage and the detail about police waiting until Richards left stage due to armed concerns heightens dramatic tension.
"Footage shared on TikTok showed Richards being surrounded by cops..."
news.com.au
Framing: news.com.au frames the event as a celebrity-adjacent crime story, focusing on the public arrest and Matthew’s reaction, but with less detail on the victim and charges. The reproduction notice suggests secondary reporting.
Tone: Sensational but less comprehensive, with a tabloid-style emphasis on public spectacle and celebrity distancing.
Omission: news.com.au omits mention of the victim’s autism, removing a key element of vulnerability and context present in New York Post.
Cherry Picking: Only one of Richards’ two reported quotes is included, reducing the sense of personal admission or remorse.
"cherry_picking "
Omission: The incest charge is not mentioned, narrowing the scope of the alleged criminal behavior.
Vague Attribution: The article ends with a reproduction notice, indicating it is not original reporting but republished content from Page Six, which may affect sourcing transparency.
"This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission."
Editorializing: British spelling ('mum', 'behaviour') and reference to Richards as 'guitarist' instead of 'bassist' suggest either editorial style or lack of fact-checking.
"behaviour of this kind"
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Chase Matthew’s bassist Carsen Richards charged with child sex crimes after being arrested at Kentucky festival
Chase Matthew’s bassist Carsen Richards charged with child sex crimes after being arrested at Kentucky festival