Rockford man pleads guilty to attempted murder

A former U.S. soldier from Rockford pleaded guilty Tuesday to stabbing his then-girlfriend five times in the face and neck in 2013.

In exchange for his guilty plea to a single charge of attempted murder, Ryan L. Paladino was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He must complete at least 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Paladino "lay in wait for her to arrive," opened her car door and began attacking her at her home in Harwood Heights, said Cook County assistant state's attorney Mike Gerber. The woman, who is the mother of Paladino's two children, recovered from her injuries and was present at the sentencing.

During his tour of duty, Paladino helped provide security for U.S. embassies in Denmark and Chad, said Cook County assistant public defender William Wolf.

Wolf requested mental health treatment for Paladino, who Wolf said has a history of depression.

Cook County Judge Joel Greenblatt took into account Paladino's service and his honorable discharge but said it did not "mitigate the offense."

"You're fortunate you're not facing murder charges. You came this close to killing a woman," Greenblatt said. "She has permanent scars both physical and emotional that will never heal."

Paladino received credit for 608 days in custody.