A jury found a McHenry man guilty of starving and neglecting two dogs after he was acquitted in a separate, similar case. Prosecutors say he also wrapped up and dumped two dead dogs in a bin.
Jason J. Pastryk, 29, of McHenry, was charged in October 2025 with two counts of cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor.
A criminal complaint filed in McHenry County Circuit Court alleged Pastryk mistreated two dogs in September 2025.
The complaint said Pastryk caused a 4-year-old female Pitbull named Max to experience “cruel treatment, starvation, and abuse” by failing to provide adequate shelter, care and nourishment for Max.
The complaint said Max exhibited visible signs of starvation, including emaciation, as well as infestation with flea and tick bites. She also had urine burns on multiple parts of her body.
The second dog, a 4-year-old female Pitbull named Eleven, also experienced “cruel treatment, starvation, and abuse” by failing to provide adequate shelter, care and nourishment for Eleven, the complaint said.
The complaint said Eleven exhibited visible signs of starvation, including emaciation, as well as infestation with flea and tick bites. She also had urine burns on multiple parts of her body.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Pastryk confirmed to deputies that the location was “his property” and at least one of the dogs was staying there under his direction, the complaint said.
Pastryk claimed he was paying people to care for the dogs but refused to provide any names, the complaint said.
Baker said the dogs were in an area that was full of feces and urine, which was consistent with them being there for a long period of time with no care.
A two-day jury trial began on Monday and ended on Tuesday with the jury returning guilty verdicts on both counts.
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office said Assistant State’s Attorney Will Baker helped prosecute the case and it was his first jury trial guilty verdict.
“Through diligent preparation, dedicated advocacy, and a commitment to seeking justice, Will successfully presented the case, along with ASA Joseph Creagor, and obtained a guilty verdict, holding the offender accountable for acts of cruelty against a defenseless animal. This verdict reflects the hard work and professionalism that Will brings to the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office every day,” the office said.
“We are proud of Will for this accomplishment and for his commitment to protecting vulnerable victims—including animals who cannot speak for themselves—and holding offenders accountable,” they added.
Pastryk was also charged in February 2025 with two counts of cruelty to animals, a Class A misdemeanor, and two counts of violation of owner duties, a Class B misdemeanor.
A criminal complaint alleges Pastryk cruelly treated two other Pitbull dogs in a way that starved them to a point where the dogs became emaciated in September 2024.
Those dogs were named Meatball, a 3-year-old female, and Karma, a 3-year-old female.
The case was investigated by the McHenry Police Department after it responded to a separate incident and made the discovery of the animals.
Baker said the living conditions for both dogs were unfit for any animal to be living as the room they were in was full of feces and urine, which was consistent with them being in the room for a long period of time with no care.
Baker said it was learned that Pastryk also previously owned two other Pitbull dogs named Celine, a 3-year-old female, and Glock, a 3-year-old male, that died in Pastryk’s care.
Pastryk wrapped the dogs in plastic and stored them in bins before placing the bins on the edge of his ex-girlfriend’s property, Baker said.
McHenry County Department of Health Public Information Officer Nick Kubiak said the two separate cases involved dogs connected to Pastryk and two different ex-girlfriends.
Karma and Meatball were never in McHenry County Animal Control custody. The two were temporarily in the care of an ex-girlfriend who became their legal owner after a domestic incident, Kubiak said.
The ex-girlfriend complied with veterinary care and a re-feeding plan after the charges were filed in the case. Both Karma and Meatball remain with her and are doing well, Kubiak said.
Eleven and Max were confiscated by animal control in September 2025 as evidence after a warrant was served at a residence in unincorporated McHenry.
Eleven was transferred to a rescue and has since been adopted, Kubiak said. Max was available for adoption through McHenry County Animal Control as of February of this year.
Pastryk was found not guilty in the February 2025 case following a bench trial before McHenry County Judge Justin Hansen in March.
No charges have been filed for the deaths of Glock and Celine.
Pastryk is set to be sentenced in the October 2025 case on August 27.