DARLINGTON — James Wallgren appeared in court Monday, Nov. 6 and pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree intentional homicide for an incident that occurred on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 in the Village of Argyle.

Wallgren agreed to a plea agreement of 25 years, serving 15 years in initial confinement and 10 years of extended supervision.

Judge Derrick Grubb accepted the guilty plea and a sentencing hearing will be set within 60 days.

According to the criminal complaint, Wallgren lived with the victim and may have been suffering from some type of mental health issue. He reportedly heard the victim talking to another person and somehow from that conversation, inferred that she was going to “eat” a child.

He then went into a bedroom, restrained the victim, and slashed her throat, before another apparent resident of the home rushed in and pulled Wallgren off the victim.

“Well, I just wanted to do it quick, you know?” Wallgren allegedly told police.

“A Lafayette County Deputy arrived on scene at 8:27 p.m., and found the female victim had been cut with a kitchen knife across her neck and hands as well as several superficial puncture wounds,” said Sheriff Reg Gill, in a statement.

He later reportedly apologized to the victim on scene.

The female victim was transported by ambulance to the Monroe Hospital with substantial, but non-life-threatening injuries. The victim underwent surgery and is expected to fully recover.