Caldwell man pleads guilty to stabbing brother-in-law

Bruce Wayne Costa Jr., 25, is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 23 on a felony charge of aggravated battery.

Three other felony charges -- aggravated assault and enhancements for using a deadly weapon and inflicting great bodily harm -- were dropped as part of a plea deal, according to court records. Costa changed his plea to guilty Tuesday.

According to court records, the Nov. 14 attack was sparked by a disagreement about use of the victim's vehicle. Caldwell police said the 35-year-old victim was holding a small child when his throat was cut at a trailer park near East Elgin and North 13th avenues about 10:45 p.m. The child witnessed the attack but was not injured, police said.

Costa was arrested at a local hotel two days later, according to court records.

This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Caldwell man pleads guilty to stabbing brother-in-law."