A San Mateo County man who threatened to kill his wife and child, then put a knife to his son's neck back last March has been sentenced to two years and eight months in prison, prosecutors said today.

Mario Enrique Espinola, a 48-year-old resident of unincorporated Redwood City, pleaded no contest to felony charges of child abuse and assault with a deadly weapon.

On March 3, 2014, a few days after his wife of 17 years told him that she wanted a divorce, Espinola threatened to kill her, their four children and himself, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Espinola went into the kitchen, came back with a steak knife, put it to his son's neck and said he was sorry for what he was about to do. Espinola's wife and their 16-year-old daughter were able to tackle him, get control of the knife and subdue the man until police arrived on scene, according to Wagstaffe.

Later that month, Espinola violated a court order while in jail by asking a friend to call his wife and talk her out of testifying against him, according to prosecutors.

Espinola's defense attorney, Alex Bernstein, could not be reached for comment.

Bay Area NewsCrimeCrime & CourtsMario Enrique EspinolaRedwood CitySan Mateo County District Attorney's Office