Bartlett Man Sentenced To 19 Years In Racially-Motivated Knife Attack

A Bartlett man who earlier pleaded guilty to stabbing a black man in the chest in a racially-motivated attack outside an Elgin bar has been sentenced to 19 years in prison.

On May 1 of this year, 30-year-old Jason Ostrego pleaded guilty to the offenses of Attempted first-degree murder, a Class X felony, and Armed violence, a Class X felony.

According to prosecutors, on January 31, 2022, Ostrego was drinking at a bar named Hoppe’s Corner located at 1075 North Liberty Street in Elgin when he began using racially-charged language while complaining about the music playing on the jukebox. Ostrego was warned to stop using the racially-charged language. When he refused to stop, he was kicked out of the bar. 

Bar manager David Scruggs escorted Jason Ostrego to the parking lot where his mother was waiting to drive him home. Ostrego refused to leave with his mother and instead started to argue with a black man, Anton Patterson, who was also in the parking lot. Ostrego directed racial epithets towards Mr. Patterson and challenged him to fight. Although Ostrego’s mother attempted to restrain him, Ostrego broke free, produced a knife, and stabbed Patterson in the chest. Mr. Scruggs, the bar manager, hit Ostrego in the face in an effort to stop the attack, at which point Ostrego slashed Mr. Scruggs in the face and hand.

Ostrego was arrested on the scene and the knife was recovered. 

Mr. Patterson and Mr. Scruggs were treated at Sherman Hospital. Mr. Patterson suffered a stab wound to the right ventricle of his heart, which required open heart surgery to repair. Mr. Scruggs required 15 stitches on his face and 5 stitches on his hand, and his nose remains disfigured because of Ostrego’s attack. 

“Jason Ostrego’s actions were a brutal assault on two innocent individuals,” said Assistant State’s Attorneys Eric Leafblad. “We are very fortunate that this was not a homicide. If Mr. Patterson’s or Mr. Scruggs’ wounds had been an inch or two in a different location, this would be a murder case.

“This sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s crimes and serves as a reminder that violence, particularly racially-motivated violence, will not be tolerated in our community. We commend the courage of Mr. Patterson and Mr. Scruggs, and we hope this verdict brings them a measure of justice and healing.”  

In accordance with Illinois law, Ostrego must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence.