Illinois man learns sentence after stabbing bar manager, patron outside Hoppe’s Corner in Elgin
A Bartlett man has been sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections for stabbing two people outside an Elgin bar in 2022.
Jason M. Ostrego, 30, pleaded guilty in May to attempted first-degree murder and armed violence.
On Jan. 31, 2022, Ostrego was at a bar named Hoppe’s Corner at 1075 N. Liberty Street in Elgin, prosecutors said. He was drinking and began using racially charged language while complaining about the music playing on the jukebox.
According to prosecutors, Ostrego was warned to stop using the racially charged language, and when he refused to stop, he was kicked out of the bar.
The manager of the bar, David Scruggs, escorted Ostrego to the parking lot, where his mother was waiting to drive him home.
Ostrego refused to leave and instead, he started to argue with another man, Anton Patterson. Ostrego then directed racial epithets toward Patterson and challenged him to fight.
Ostrego’s mother then attempted to restrain him. However, he broke free, produced a knife and stabbed Patterson in the chest.
Scruggs struck Ostrego in the face to try and stop the attack. At that time, Ostrego slashed Scruggs in the face and hand.
Police arrested Ostrego at the scene and a knife was recovered.
Patterson suffered a stab wound to the right ventricle of his heart and required open-heart surgery to repair his heart.
Scruggs required 15 stitches on his face and five on his hand to treat his wounds. Scruggs’ nose became disfigured because of the attack.
