BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. — A Sullivan County man is going to prison for 20 years for murder and other crimes.
Johnny Royston Jr. pleaded guilty in criminal court in Blountville to second-degree murder and other crimes Monday morning.
He admitted to shooting and killing Rowdy Yates, of Bristol, in 2017.
Authorities said Royston and Yates argued before the shooting at Royston’s camper home on Eaton’s Private Drive in the Highway 421 area.
That prompted a manhunt for Royston for several days before his arrest.
He also pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and smuggling opioids into the county jail after his arrest. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to serve 25 years of probation.
