A Vienna man who pled guilty to strangulation after he was caught lying about his service in the military learned his fate in court today.

Thirty-one-year-old Kotey Paden was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of strangulation, domestic violence and child endangerment. The strangulation and domestic violence counts were merged.

The charges stem from an incident in 2023 where Paden struck a woman and choked her while she was holding her son at his home. 

Paden apologized to the victim and said he's willing to accept any punishment coming to him, stating that he's never tackled his issues head on and wants to get the help he needs. He described this incident as a "reality check."

"I've never hit [my issues] head on. And whatever happens, it's God's will and I'm at peace with it," Paden said.

The victim appeared at the hearing and said this abuse had been going on since 2022 and told the court that she and her son have experienced trauma as a result of this incident.

"Kotey would fill me of empty promises of getting sober, holding a job, being a father figure to my son, etc. ... Each time I did let him come back, the abuse would get worse," the victim said.

Paden had previously testified that he was a combat veteran serving overseas in the U.S. Military. However, the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office was later alerted of holes in his testimony.

Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman contacted Herman Breuer, Director of Trumbull County's Veteran Services Commission, to investigate Paden's military record.

It was then discovered that Paden did not just lie about his service, but was dishonorably discharged due to criminal offenses and did not serve overseas.

Breuer would have been available as a rebuttal witness at trial but Paden pled instead.

Wildman has recommended a prison sentence for Paden.

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