GOLDEN, Colo. (May 1, 2025) – Nicholas James Karol-Chik was sentenced to 45 years in the Department of Corrections for his role in a series of rock-throwing attacks between February 25, 2023, and April 19, 2023. Karol-Chik previously pleaded guilty to two substantive charges and a sentence enhancer and agreed to testify in the trial against his co-defendant, Joseph Koenig. As a result of his plea, he faced a minimum of 35 years and up to 72 years in prison, upon satisfying its terms.
On May 14, 2024, Karol-Chik pled guilty to the following 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- Extreme Indifference -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) (Enhancing Count 16)
Karol-Chik was called to testify two times during Koenig’s jury trial, where he recounted multiple occasions on which rocks and other objects were thrown at vehicles and drivers. Karol-Chik testified that he, Koenig, and Kwak were responsible for hitting seven oncoming vehicles on April 19, 2023, injuring three drivers and killing Alexa Bartell. Specifically, Karol-Chik testified he was in the front passenger seat and provided Koenig the 9-pound landscaping rock that Koenig threw at Alexa Bartell, causing her death.
Karol-Chik also testified to throwing rocks and other objects with Koenig on February 25, 2023, and April 1, 2023.
Last Friday, after a two-week trial, jurors found Koenig guilty on all nineteen charges brought against him, including Murder in the First Degree- Extreme Indifference, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
At today’s sentencing hearing, prosecutors acknowledged that Karol-Chik fulfilled the terms of his plea agreement and provided valuable testimony before the jury. The court also heard that Karol-Chik was distinct among the defendants in expressing genuine emotion and remorse over the death of Alexa Bartell.
However, Deputy District Attorney Brynn Chase argued that Karol-Chik had already received a substantial benefit by avoiding a first-degree murder conviction. She emphasized that his cooperation was accounted for in the plea agreement and should not further mitigate his sentence. Highlighting the senseless, violent pattern of Karol-Chik’s actions—and the fact that the tragedy was entirely preventable—Chase stated, “With the level of seriousness of the offense, there’s just no way to atone for what the three of them did but for a substantial sentence to the Department of Corrections. There’s a sadness attached to that, but it is the measure of justice that is required here.”
Family members of Bartell addressed the court one by one, using the opportunity to speak about Alexa and a life that was so tragically taken. “She was taken from a world that desperately needed people like her,” one family member said. Alexa’s mother, Kelly Bartell, asking for the maximum sentence, told the court, “These three spent the evening laughing, hunting, and looking for destruction.”
Karol-Chik also addressed the court, expressing the “deep regret” for everything that happened. “I will forever have to live with the fact that my desire to impress people that I thought were friends, caused this tragedy,” concluding with, “I hope that one day you can find it in your heart to forgive.”
District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek, noted the “sad and cruel irony” of Alexa’s tattoo that reads, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.”, further remarking “the world does desperately need more people like her.”
Regarding Count 16, as enhanced by Count 18, Karol-Chik was sentenced to 45 years in the Department of Corrections. He received a 24-year sentence on Count 17, to be served concurrently with Count 16. The sentence includes mandatory parole terms of five years for Count 16 and three years for Count 17.