Rochester Home Invader Avoids Prison Sentence

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A second man has been sentenced for his involvement in a violent home invasion in Rochester earlier this year.

22-year-old Austin Swenson was given a stayed prison sentence and placed on probation for 20 years. The Eyota man was also ordered to spend 20 days in jail for his conviction on a first-degree burglary charge.

Swenson and a 27-year-old Matthew Bettridge were accused of barging into an apartment in the 1500 block of 4th Avenue Southeast on July 22nd and demanding money from a safe. The police report on the incident says the man and two women in the apartment were roughed up by the intruders after they were told there was no safe. The male victim was also knocked to the floor before he was punched and kicked in the face.

The victims recognized and identified Swenson as one of the intruders and he was arrested just hours later.

Bettridge was previously sentenced to almost 4 years in prison for his involvement in the crime.