GOLDEN, Colo. (May 15, 2024) – Nicholas James Karol-Chik pled guilty this morning to a series of rock-throwing attacks between Feb. 25, 2023 and Apr. 19, 2023. As a result of his plea and cooperation, he will face a minimum of 35 years and up to 72 years in prison.
Karol-Chik pled guilty to the following added charges:
Added Count 16: Murder In the Second Degree – Section 18-3-103(1)(a), C.R.S. (F2) (Naming Alexa Bartell)
Added Count 17: Criminal Attempt to Commit Murder In The First Degree -Section 18-3-102(1)(d);18-2-101, C.R.S. (F2) (Naming nine victims between 02/25/2023 and 04/19/2023)
Added Count 18: Crime of Violence – Section 18-1.3-406(2)(a)(I)(B), C.R.S. (SE) (Naming Alexa Bartell)
The original counts (1-15) were dismissed as a result of the plea. Karol-Chik is scheduled to be sentenced on Sep. 10, 2024, at 1 p.m. or after the resolution of 23CR1034 and 23CR1035, Defendant Koenig’s and Defendant Kwak’s cases.
Defendant Karol-Chik stipulated to the following factual basis for today’s plea:
On Feb. 25, 2023, Karol-Chik and Co-Defendant Koenig threw a rock and concrete from the truck Koenig was driving, targeting oncoming drivers. Karol-Chik threw one of the objects, and Koenig threw one of the objects.
On Apr. 1, 2023, while Karol-Chik was driving, Koenig threw a statue head at an oncoming driver.
On Apr. 19, 2023, Karol-Chik, Koenig, and Kwak threw landscaping rocks from Karol-Chik’s moving Chevrolet Silverado, targeting drivers of oncoming moving vehicles. They caused damage to all seven vehicles they struck, caused injury to three drivers, and killed Alexa Bartell. Specifically, Karol-Chik, who was in the front passenger’s seat, provided Koenig, who was driving, the large landscaping rock that Koenig threw at Alexa Bartell, causing her death.
Regarding all of these incidents, Defendant Karol-Chik knowingly engaged in conduct which created a grave risk of death, under circumstances evidencing an attitude of universal malice manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life.
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