Back-to-back Armed Robberies Earn Hawkins Teen 8 Years

ROGERSVILLE — A Mount Carmel teen who robbed two east Hawkins County convenience stores at gunpoint on the same night last December was sentenced Friday to eight years. Austin Allen Swarthout, 19, 446 Old Hickory Circle, Mount Carmel, pleaded guilty Friday before Hawkins County Criminal Judge John Dugger to two counts of aggravated robbery. Swarthout must serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for parole, and he was also fined $900. Both robberies took place the night of Dec.