Winnsboro man sentenced to 15 years in prison for 2020 garage killing

WINNSBORO, Texas ( KETK ) – A 74-year-old East Texas man has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison after a 2020 murder in Winnsboro.

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According to the Wood County Criminal District Attorney, police arrested Billy Dwaine Cotten, 74, of Winnsboro, on May 13 of 2020 after they found him covered in the blood of Steven Wayne Lancaster. Officers were responding to reports of a stabbing at Bob's Garage on East Carnegie Street, Albers said.

They found Lancaster on the floor of the garage and he was rushed to the where he later died, according to a press release. Cotten was still at the scene and he reportedly told the officers "he kicked me and I stabbed him."

Cotten also reportedly told law enforcement that he and Lancaster were arguing about a scooter battery when the argument got physical. Cotten is quoted by officials as saying he "had to kill [Lancaster] or [Lancaster would] stomp me in the ground."

Security footage from Bob's Garage shows Cotten following Lancaster with a knife as he was leaving the garage. Lancaster's wife testified that "3-4 weeks before the incident [Cotten] told me if he and [Lancaster] got into another argument, he would stab [Lancaster]."

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After less than three hours of deliberation the jury in Cotten's case found him guilty of murder. Cotten reportedly waived his right to an appeal as a part of a deal with Albers' office and he was sentenced to 15 years with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Cotten will also have to pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.