An arrest warrant was issued for a Lake in the Hills man who allegedly beat a woman, tried smothering her mouth to stop her from breathing, and then pointed a loaded gun into a room where children were.
Bryan E. Pientka, 47, of the 1400 block of Washington Street in Lake in the Hills, was charged with aggravated domestic battery, two counts of domestic battery, interfering with the reporting of domestic violence and two counts of endangering the life of a child.
The Lake in the Hills Police Department responded to the 1400 block of Washington Street in Lake in the Hills around 8 p.m. Friday for a report of a domestic battery.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County court alleges that Pientka intentionally impeded the airway of a woman in his household by smothering her by placing his hand over her mouth and pushing her head down into the couch.
Pientka also struck the woman on the left side of her body with his foot and then placed his hands upon the woman’s neck and chest.
During the attack, Pientka grabbed the woman’s shirt and struck her chest with an open hand and then put her cell phone under the couch to prevent her from calling 911, the complaint said.
Pientka also caused the life of two children to be put in danger by pointing a loaded gun into a bedroom where the kids were.
Officers arrested Pientka and transported him to the McHenry County Jail where a judge ordered him held on a $50,000 bond.
He posted $5,000 bail on Saturday and was released from the jail. An arrest warrant was issued for him after he failed to appear in court on Wednesday.
McHenry County Judge Robert Wilbrandt said in a court filing that Pientka and his lawyer failed to appear for the hearing and he ordered the man’s bond to be forfeited.
Wilbrandt also ordered that an arrest warrant carrying a $75,000 bond be issued for Pientka. A status hearing is scheduled for May 5.