A Hispanic has admitted to fatally shooting one man and wounding another during a 2011 confrontation that was apparently sparked by his belief that one of them was responsible for vandalizing his car

Bruce Silva has pleaded guilty in 8th District Court to murder, first-degree felony, and aggravated assault, a second-degree felony. Prosecutors had initially charged Silva with criminal homicide and attempted aggravated murder, both first-degree felonies, three counts of aggravated assault, a second-degree felony, possession of a weapon by a restricted person, a second-degree felony, and three counts of committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, a class B misdemeanor. Uintah County Attorney G. Mark Thomas said that he is confident a jury would have convicted Silva on all counts, but made the plea offer after consulting with the survivors and the family of murder victim James Edward Carey. Silva, 24, asked to be sentenced immediately after entering his pleas. He was ordered to serve 15 years to life in prison for the murder charge and one to 15 years in prison for the aggravated assault charge. The sentences will run consecutively. Silva also pleaded guilty to an unrelated misdemeanor drug charge and was sentenced to serve one year in jail concurrent with the prison time. Silva shot and killed Carey, 25, and wounded Jared Hurley, 35, during a confrontation outside a Uintah County home on June 18, 2011.