Winnsboro man convicted, gets 15 years for stabbing death of auto repair worker

WOOD COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) - A jury found a Winnsboro man guilty in the 2020 murder of an auto repair shop employee.

Billy Dwaine Cotten, 74, of Winnsboro, was convicted of the murder of 54-year-old auto repair shop worker Steven Lancaster by a Wood County jury in Judge McCampbell's courtroom Thursday.

According to the affidavit, In May 2020 police responded to an aggravated assault call at a Winnsboro car repair shop where they found Lancaster lying on the floor with multiple stab wounds. Lancaster was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Police found Cotten sitting in his truck outside of the repair shop. When questioned, Cotten said he had gotten into an altercation with Lancaster who pushed him to the ground and kicked him. Cotten, in fear for his life, pulled a knife from his pocket to stab Lancaster in the chest.

According to Wood County District Attorney Angela Albers, the jury found Cotten guilty of Lancaster's murder. However before sentencing could proceed, Cotten's defense approached Albers to discuss a punishment agreement.

After speaking with the defense and the victims, an agreement was reached, sentencing Cotten to 15 years in state prison. In addition to his sentence, Cotten waived his right to all appeals, and he must pay a $1,000 fine plus court costs.

The jury also convicted Cotten of using a deadly weapon, in this case a knife, in the murder which means he must serve at least seven and a half years of his sentence before he is elligble for parole.

According to the arrest affidavit, Cotten told police he stabbed Lancaster once, but medical examiners reported Lancaster had nine total stab wounds to his chest, shoulders, face, neck, and knee.

The affidavit also states video taken from cameras inside the shop show Lancaster aggressively yelling at someone from the back of the shop. Cotten is then shown entering the frame with a knife in his right hand. Lancaster is seen charging at Cotten and kicking him before falling to the ground. When Lancaster got up and charged at Cotten, Cotten is seen stabbing Lancaster multiple times before they both fall to the ground.

Cotten will receive seven days of jail time credit for his sentence in this case.

Related:

Winnsboro man in jail, accused of stabbing murder inside auto repair shop

Affidavit: Wood County man 'in fear for his life' stabbed auto repair worker 9 times